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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



CONTAINING 



Dialognes, Speeches, Motion Songs, Tableaux, Charades, 

Blackboard Exercises, Juvenile Comedies, 

And other Entertainments. 



FOB 



PRIMARY SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTENS, AND JUVENILE 
HOilE ENTERTAINMENTS. 



By MRS. MARY B. C. SLADE, 

EDITOR OF "good TIMES." 



FOR ALL SEASONS AND OCCASIONS. 



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(^-..24^^>§ 



B0ST0]^^4^^ 
HENRY A. YOUXG AND COMPANY, 

13 Bkomfield Street. 






COPYRIGHT,- 
1880, 

By Henry A. Young & Co. 



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Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 
19 Spring Lane. 



CONTENTS, 



PAGE 

Talking Flowers, 7 

Making Hay, 11 

Going to School, 12 

A very Little Boy's Speech to Speech-makers, . . . . 13 

A Little Sennon for a Little Boy, 13 

Temperance Address, .....'.... 14 

Two Little Welcomes, 14 

Saving and Gaining, 14 

Good-by, on Examination Day, 15 

Playing School, 16 

Ways of Saying Yes 18 

Grandmother's Breakfast, 20 

Ii'on — Silver — Gold, 21 

One Little Girl, 22 

Huiiy Along, 22 

Lilian's Xames, 23 

The Walk, 24 

It is I, 24 

When are we happiest ? 25 

Geographical Charade : Rhode Island, 26 

Acting Charade : Pennsylvania, 27 

The Colony ; or. Far Away to Idaho, 28 

"I" or "Hi" ? 30 

Lost States and Territories, 30 

Geography, 31 

Geogi-aphy Song, 34 

Geogi-aphical Charade : Maine, 35 

A Wise Decision, 35 

Song. — Birthday Bells, .36 

That Little Hatchet, 37 

Two Portraits, . . . , 38 

Animated Pictures, .38 

The Washingtons at Tea-Table, 39 

Our Flag. e. L., 39 



4 CONTENTS. 

Autumn's Queen, 40 

A November Day. m.b. s., . * . . . . . 43 

La Chanson de L'Hiver. M. B. S., 43 

The Three Sieves, 44 

Christmas Gifts, ot What We Do at Our House, . . . .45 

"What not to Do. M. B. S., 46 

If a Brother, 47 

Lilian Beceives, at New Year's, 47 

A Drca elf 111 Thing, 48 

Massachusetts GiiTs Temperance Speech, ..... 48 

What can the Reason be ? 49 

Speech for a Four- Year-Old, 50 

The Two Brigades, . , cO 

IDidlt. — Not, *'iDoneIt," 51 

Bread-making, 51 

Welcome to All : on Examination Day, 52 

Kate's French Lesson, 53 

The Temper- Aunt's (Temperance r) Awakening, m. b. S., . 53 

Playing Bailroad, 55 

Seven, 55 

Morning, Noon, and Night, 56 

Little Truant, 56 

Woman's Rights, 58 

Ten Little Fames, 59 

Masonic, 60 

Backward and Forward, 61 

When I'm a Man, 62 

The House that Jack Built, 64 

What December says, Q>Q 

Last Month, 67 

Along the SUent Path, Q^ 

French Days, 68 

Persuasion, 69 

Temptation, 70 

Choice of Zones, . . . . ' . • 70 

Alphabet Game, 71 

Where Ten Boys Want to Live, .73 

Little Children's Christmas Song, 75 

He Careth for Us, 75 

Neuf Heures moins Cinq Minutes, m. b. s., . . . . 76 

National Flowers, , . . 77 

Playing Carpenter, 79 

Advice from Five, Ten, and Twelve. M. B. s., . . . . 79 

Spring Work, 80 



CONTENTS, . 5 

Historic Personages, 81 

Autumn Examination, 83 

When Father comes, 84 

Live thou again, our "Washington, 84 

Acting Charade, 85 

Smith and Jones. M. B. s., 87 

" Birds cannot Count," 87 

Fortune-Telling, 88 

Kindergarten Bird-Class, 89 

August, 90 

When do You Sing ? 91 

Bird Sonirs, 91 

We'll Try, 92 

At the Christmas-Tree, 93 

AU the Seasons, . .94 

Mon Jardin : My Garden. M. B. s., 95 

Chacun a son Gout : Tastes Differ, m. B. s., 95 

The Temperance Sheep, 96 

Wintry Storms, 97 

Independence Day, 98 

March, 99 

Mists, 100 

The Passing Seasons, 101 

Lincoln Song : for April 14th, 105 

No ! Xo ! No ! . .106 

A Little Boy's Suggestion, 107 

August, IGlk — December, 1620, \ .107 

All Work and no Play. m. B. s., 108 

Vacation Fun, 109 

Money to Spend, 110 

What shall Archie do ? m. b. s., lU 

Spring Fun. m. b. s., 113 

TwoMitcs; A Little Misunderstanding, 114 

A Little French, for a Little Girl. m. b. s., . . . .115 

Mouse-Traps, 115 

We thank Thee, 116 

Little Foxes and Little Hunters, 117 

Call to the Birds, 118 

The City Girl, 119 

Lucy Lee, ] 20 

Happy Singer, joq 

The Christmas Tree, 121 

Birds and Angels, 122 

May Festival, 124 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



TALKTN-G FLOWERS. 

[Persons. — Twelve little girls personating the flowers ; a reiy small 
child and a larger girl as mother and daughter ; and a group of 
veiy little boys and girls as mosses Q.nA ferns. 

Arrangement. — Place the children in a semicircle, having the group 
for Mosses and Ferns at one end. Let the two tallest personate 
Sunflower and. Dahlia; let Convolvulus stand by Z)a^^ea with her 
arms twined around her. Arrange the remainder according to 
height. 

Decoration. — K in the season of flowers, let each have a wreath and 
bouquet, if possible, of the flower she represents.] 

Child {singing : tune, " Nelly Bly") 
Mother dear, mother dear, see the flowers smile ! 
I wish I could their voices hear — come Hsten, now, a-while. 
Sweet blossoms, dear blossoms, sing, oh, sing to me ! 
ril hark to you, I'll list to you, to hear your melody. 

Mother (singing). 

Hush, my love ! hush, my love ! listen, darling, now ! 
"When the winds the blossoms move, they murmur soft and 

low. 
Sweet blossoms, dear blossoms, sing, oh, sing to me ! 
I'll hark to you, Til list to you, to hear your melody. 

7 



8 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Flowei'S {singing). 

Gentle child, meek and mild, listening she stands ; 
Parted are her rosy lips, and clasped her lily hands. 
*' Sweet hlossoms, dear blossoms, sing," she says, 

" to me ! " 
Now hark to us, now list to us, to hear our melody. 

Tulip {recites or sings), 

I am a Tulip ; my dress is bright, 

It glitters like gold in the morning light. 

I know I am brilliant, and rare, and gay. 

At first I was proud, until, one day, 

I learned that I was not half so sweet 

As plain, little Mignonette, down by my feet. 

Mignonette {replies). 

Beautiful Tulip, the Hand divine 

Made me for sweetness, and you to shine. 

Dahlia. lama Dahlia, with heart of gold ; 
The radiant hue of each pnrple fold 
Of my dress is like velvet to deck a queen. 
I'm the happiest Dahlia that ever was seen! 
But more than my beauty, or pride, or power, 
Love I this gentle Convolvulus flower 
That trustfully grasps my strong, high stem, 
And decks my brow like a diadem. 

Convolvulus. 

And I love you, for when 1 was young, 
AVith feeble tendrils I faintly clung 
To a Sunflower bold- but she shook me aside ; 
Then you, kind Dahlia, support supplied. 

Sunjloicer. 

I did not mean to be rude that day ; 

I turned to the sun, and you stood in my way. 

Sensitive Plant. {The very smallest child.) 
I am the little Sensitive-Plant. 
I would like to say more, but — indeed, I can't. 

Blue-Eye. 

I am the little Blue-Eye grass ; 

There are few who see me, as on they pass ; 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

But I can look up with my little blue eye 
To the warm, kind sun in the beautiful sky ; 
And I never am chilled when the cold winds blow, 
Because my dear home is so sheltered and low. 
Blue-Eye will teach you, in accents mild : 
Learn to be humble and lowly, my child. 

Violet, I am the Violet, and I dwell 

Under the shade of the sweet Heath-Bell. 
Early, at dawning, it rings and it rings, 
To waken me, ere the redbreast sings. 
. I am happy, so happy the livelong day, 
For I love in my lowly home to stay, 
And I know that the sunny days of spring 
The love of the children to me will bring. 

Gentian. 

I am the Gentian, with fringe of blue. 
Upward I gaze all the long day through. 
I do not know whence the flowers all come, 
But it seems to me the blue sky is my home. 
"When I bloom, the winter draws nigh, 
And Asters and Golden-rod wither and die ; 
And leaves are falling from vine and tree ; — 
Does it make you sad .^ It is sad to me. 

Columbine. 

I am the Columbine, and I keep 
Sweet honey-drops in my nectaries deep. 
The humming-bird and the busy bee 
Know what they find when they fly to me. 
I teach this lesson : That free from sin 
You keep the cells of the soul within. 
That love's sweet honey you may bestow 
On all who about you come and go. 

Buttercup. 

Vm little Buttercup, shining like gold, 
With a smile for the young, and a smile for the old. 
I grow in the sunshine, and grow in the shade, 
I'm the cheeriest flower that ever was made. 
AVhen the little ones find me they dance with delight, 
As they fill up their aprons with buttercu])s bright. 
''Now, who loves butter? " they shouting begin. 
As they hold me up under each lily-white chin. 



10 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Sweethrier. 

I am the Sweetbrier, and I grow 

By the wayside hedge where the children go. 

They search about in my fragrant home, 

And they say, "It is time, for the buds have come.** 

But I keep quite still till some gentle child 

Parts the leaves with her fingers mild ; 

Then I send my breath of fragrance out, 

And laugh as I hear the joyous shout : 

" The roses have come \ the roses are here ! 

I will carry this home to my mother dear I " 

Mosses and Ferns (in concert). 

Little Mosses and Ferns ai*e we. 

We dwell in the forest, glad and free ; 

We joyfully drink the gentle rain ; 

We smile when the bright sun shines again ; 

Our fragrant thanks to the setting sun 

AVe breathe, when each happy day is done. 

Flowers f Mosses, and Ferns {singing). 
Little child, an offering 
Of our fragrant love we bring. 
God has made us fair and bright, 
For your pleasure and delight. 
From the garden, field, and wood, 
Sing, oh, sing, the Lord is good ! 

Little child, a flower art thou. 
In the dear Lord's garden, now ; 
Gentle dews of heavenly love 
Fall upon you from above. 
Sing with flowers of field and wood. 
Sing, oh, sing, the Lord is good ! 

Child, MotJier, and Flowers (singing). 

Father dear, who sends the flowers 
In the field, the wood, the bowers, 
Joyous notes of sweetest praise 
Unto Thee our voices raise. 
Sing as loving spirits should, — 
Sing, oh, sing, the Lord is good I 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 11 

MAKING HAY. 

{^A Recitation for Summer.) 

Thuough the meadow-grass, dewy, and tall, and green, 
Drives, whirring and whizzing, the mowing-machine, 
The horses are prancing, the sharp blades shine, 
And the grass lies low in a level line. 

To and fro fly the birds, and chipper and chatter, 
And seem to be wondering what is the matter ; 
While Bobolink's wife makes a frightened ado. 
As she looks for her nest where the horses went through. 

The day grows hot, and the daisies wither ; 
The funny horse-tedder drives hither and thither, 
And scatters and tosses the grain as it goes. 
Like a monstrous grasshopper, stubbing his toes. 

Then the rake comes on where the tedder has been, 
And rakes up and drops out its lines of green ; 
And the field so fair in the early morn, 
When the noontime comes, is all shaven and shorn. 

So the wilting grass, and the fading clover, 

They all day long pitch over and over ; 

And men with their forks, as the sun goes down. 

Pile the little round heaps, like an Esquimaux town. 

While the daylight fades in the golden west. 

Let us lie on the odorous hay and rest; 

Our couch is as soft as a velvet throne, 

And sweet as a breeze from the spice-isles blown. 

To-morrow the carts for the hay will come. 
And the willing old oxen will carry it home ; 
And the children shall ride to the barn away, 
On the very tip-top of the load of hay. 



12 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

GOING TO SCHOOL. 

{For four Little Ones.) 
First Two. 

Little folks, little folks, where are you straying, 
Smiling so happy, and dressed neat and iair ? 

Second Two. 

Oh ! don't you hear -what the school-bells are saying ? 
" Come to school ! come to school ! " We're going there. 

First Tico. 

Little folks, little folks, why don't you gather 
Daisies and buttercups bright by the way ? 

Second Two. 

Oh ! the time hastens, and we would much rather 
Be there in seasou than loitering stay. 

First Two. 

Little folks, little folks, what are you bringing, 
Holding so careful, and keeping so neat ? 

Second Two. 

These are the books for our lessons and singing. 
Pleasant the tasks, and the tunes bright and sweet. 

First Tico. 

Little folks, little folks, say, can another 

Join you, and learn all the things that you know ? 

Second Tico. 

Oh, yes ; come with us, like sister and brother, 
We shall be glad if to school you will go. 

First Tico. 

Little folks, little folks, say, will your teachers 
Willingly let us the lessons begin ? 

Second Two. 

See, here they are, and the smile on their features 
Says, '* Dear new scholars, we welcome you in ! " 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 13 

A VERY LITTLE BOY'S SPEECH TO SPEECH- 
MAKERS. 

{On Examiiiation Day.) 

1 SHALL speak very briefly, dear ladies, and dear sirs. 
Mv speech \\'ill be chiefly unto the speech-makers : 
Mr. Preacher preached a sermon; I cannot tell you, next, 
What was Mr. Preacher's subject, nor Mr. Preacher's text. 
But a lady hastened to him, as on the steps he stood, 
With, " C)h ! clear Mr. Preacher ! your sermon was so good ! 
I haven't heard a sermon, in how long I can't tell, 
That pleased me, Mr. Preacher, and suited me so well !" 
Mr. Preacher was delighted, though dignified and grave, 
But, such nice sugar-plums of praise, who does not like to have? 
So he thanked the lady kindly, and said that he was glad ; 
He hoped to preach acceptably, and he rejoiced he had. 
Then asked her why his sermon so excellent she thought : 
*' Oh ! I liked it, Mr. Preacher — because it was so short I " 




A LITTLE SERMON FOR A LITTLE BOY. 

Text : " Make it plain." — TIab. ii. 2. 

I'm but a little fellow to stand up here and. preach, 

My sermon is to teachers who little children teach: 

Habakkuk ii. 2, my subject will contain, lit plain. 

*' Make it plain," that is my text : make it plain^ make 

Firstly : Small boys and girls don't know very much ; 

When you teach a lesson, make it plain to such. 

Secondly : I will illustrate just as the preachers do, 

By telling you an anecdote, — my hearers, it is true : — 

A very little girl in Sunday-school had learned 

The story that Lot's wife to a pillar of salt was turned. 

Now what a ])illar was, this child she did not know, 

And in her little mind she thought 'twas a pillow ! 

So she gravely asked one day, (and it was not her fault.) 

If Lot's wife, in the resurrection, would rise, a hag of salt! 

Thirdly : If that child's teacher had shown what pil/«r5 were, 

Don't you see it had been easy to make it plain to her.^ 

Fourthly, and last, in closing, I'll give my text again : 

Habakkuk ii. 2, Make it plain , make it plain ! . 



14 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

TEMPERANCE ADDEESS. 

{For a very young Lecturer.) 

I THINK that every mother's son, 

And every father's daughter. 
Should drink — at least till twenty-one- 

Just nothing but cold water. 
And after that they might drink tea, 

But nothing any stronger. 
If all folks would agree with me 

They'd live a great deal longer. 



TWO LITTLE WELCOMES. 

Little Boy {lowing). 

I'm going to speak the welcome ! all you men and boys, 
I'm very glad you've come, but you mustn't make any noise. 
They told me to make a bow, and not be afraid of the men ! 
Who's afraid! I've made it once, now I'll make it again. 

{Bows and runs off. Little Girl runs on.) 

Girl 
He didn't welcome the ladies ! what a funny fellow ! 
{Points.) Oh ! what a pretty bonnet ! trimmed with blue and 

yellow ! 
But you mustn't be looking 'round, look right straight at me, 
Because I'm going to welcome the ladies, don't you see? 
Ladies and girls, you are welcome, just as welcome as can be, 
But the men and boys are welcome, just as much and just 

the same. 
I hope every one, when you go home, will say you're glad 

you came. 



SAVING AND GAINING. 

{Boy's Recitation.) 

Johnny, running along the road, a horse-shoe chanced to find ; 
He stopped, and stooped, and turned it o'er, and this came in 

his mind : 
** I'll pick it up and carry it home, and sell it then," said he. 
*' ^There's as much in saving as in gaining f' the Scotchman 

said to me." 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 15 

Johnny found on the lonely shore a vessel high aground ; 

The nails, and spikes, and bolts, and bars, lay scattering all 

around ; 
" ni knock them out, and carry them home, and sell them, 

then,'' said he, 
" * Tliere^s as much in saving as in gaining,^ the Scotchman 

said to me." 

The blacksmith bought the shoe, and said, " 'Tis just the size I 

want 
To shoe the foot that holds the horse that carries General 

Grant." 
When Johnny took the pennies bright, he laughed, and then 

said he, 
" ' Tliere^s as much in saving as in gaining,* the Scotchman 

said to me." 

The Scotchman took the heavy spikes, and then I heard him say, 
" We'll get the steelyards, Johnny boy, and see how much they 

weigh." 
He weighed them well, he paid him well ; John danced and 

cried with glee : 
" * There's as much in saving as in gaining, the Scotchman 

said to me." 



GOOD-BY, ON EXAMINATION DAY. 

Mr. Supekintendent, 

My " few remarks " now hear: 
On you we are dependent 
For visits all the year. 
To do us good you try. Keceive our kind good-by. 

Mr. School-Committee, 

So welcome at our door, 
Now is it not a pity 

We should not see you more ? 
To come again, please try. Keceive our kind good-by. 

Friend, or father, or mother, 

Strange that our schoolroom dear 

Cannot your faces gather 
More than this once a year. 
It makes us sadly sigh. Receive our kind good-by. 



16 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Scholars and loving teachers, 
A happy time ^ve^•e passed, 
Yet joy lights up your features — 
Vacation 's come at last ! 
For all, to all, say I ; Receive our kind good-by. 



PLAYING SCHOOL. 

[On Examination Day, after all class exercises are finished, let thi 
Dialogue be begun by a little girl, who shall rise from her sea . 
The others, as they reply and join, shall remain seated, canying on 
the conversation briskly.] 

First Girl {to the Guests). Every one has recited, we've all 
spelled and read ; 

Some, long puzzling answers in numbers have said \ 

We have tried hard to show you the best we could do 

In reading and spelling — • 
Small Boy {interrupting). Arithmetic, too ! 
F, G. And so, if our friends will listen awhile, 
Bm. B. And give, now and then, an encouraging smile, — 
F» G* I just want a nice little schoolma'am to be, 
Second Boy. Oh ho ! that is jolly ! what fun we shall see ! 
F, G. But I hope you will all be obedient to me. 
Third Boy {a larger one). I believe, ma*am, that I can make 

answer for all. 
Sm. B. You speak for the big boys, Til speak for the small. 
Fourth Boy. We are all tired of study — 
F. G, But this will be ])lay. 

Third Boy. Then I'm sure I can promise each one will obey. 
Second Girl {a little one), I think that it seems rather funny 
and queer, 

For the school ma'am to sit with her scholars down here. 
Third Girl. Oh, please take your place on the platform up 
there. 

Let us see how you look in the teacber^s arm-chair. 
F. G, I will go to the platform {goes)y — but I'd rather stand. 
Fourth Girl. Oh, yes, that's the way to look round and com- 
mand. 
F. G. I must watch for the idlers 'mong so many boys ; 

I must see who is roguish, and who makes a noise. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 17 

Fourth Boy. Now, please, ma'am, don't watch us from morning 

to night. 
Several. You know we have promised to try do right. 
Fifth Boy. You must trust us ; I always behave when I'm 
triLsted, 

But when I am icafched all the time, I'm disgusted! 
Sixth Boy (the smallest). If I were a teacher, I think that 
I should 

Look less for the bad boys and more for the good. 
F. G. Seems to me, little fellow, 'tis not very nice 

For a scholar to offer his teacher advice. 

You may open your books, study more and talk less. 

And learn all you can till I ring for recess. {Rings bell.) 

First class in Geography, now you may stand, (they stand,) 

And give the divisions of water and land. 

Speak promptly, and let every answer I hear 

Be given correctly, distinctly, and clear. 
First in Class (hesitatingly). Divisions of land, — divisions of 
water ? 

I'm sure I can't tell — 
Teacher. Well, I'm sure that you ought to. 

Next (sloicly). Divisions — of — water, — divisions — of — land ? 
T, Sit down, sir ! 'Tis plain that you don't understand. 

Who can give of the water ? — ah ! John, you may try ; 

I see that you know, by that gleam of your eye. 
John. Straits, channels and sounds, oceans, gulfs, bays and seas, 

Lakes, rivers and streams, are the names, ma'am, of these. 
T. You are right. Ralph, now tell us about the Great Ocean ; 

Is it quiet and still, or forever in motion? 

Give its various names, and then let us know 

What is found in the depths of its waters below. 
Balph, Little school-ma'am, 'tis true, though maybe you don't 
know it, 

Not all have been born, like yourself, a true poet ; 

So I think I'll answer that question as I learned it in my 
Geography. The Ocean has five parts : 

Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Northern and Southern Oceans. 

It is always tumbling and tossing about ; and it has all sorts 

of fishes, from the big whale to the little mummy-chog. 

T, Very well, Ralph. Our friends seem so pleased, I suppose 

There are some who like better to hear you in prose. 

Now some countries in Asia — 
2 



18 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Little Girl, Give that to me : 

There is China ; that^s where we get most of our tea ; 

And Hindostan sti'etching dawn into the sea. 
T, Europe, Ann. 
Ann (briskly). Lapland, Sweden and Norway, and Hussia, 

Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Prussia, 

Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Turkey, and — (hesitates.) 
Small Boy. Eight up in the middle is Tell's Switzerland. 

Europe has splendid cities. 
Next Boy. London, Paris, and Rome. 

Next Girl. We've New York, Chicago, and Boston at home. 
Next Boy. Asia has mighty rivers, and mountains so high 

That the snow never melts while the summer goes by. 
Another Girl. We've the long Mississippi, and Amazon grand. 
Next Girl. And the Andes, that stretch the whole length of 

the land. 
Another. Diamonds, Africa has, gold and silver so pure. 
Boy. California and Black Hills have gold, I am sure. 
Teacher. That will do. I would ask you about your own State, 

But I fear you are th'ed, and I see it is late ; 

If we use all the time it would be a great pity; 

We should lose the wise speeches from friends and Committee. 

I thank you, my scholars, for being so good.. 
Small B. You knew we should be so, we said that we would. 
Teacher. And now to my seat, as a scholar, I'll go, 

And we'll sing the new song we've been learning, you know. 



WAYS OF SAYING YES. 

Characters. — Dr. Tioisty the School Committee. Miss Belle, the 

Teacher. Seholai's, four hoys, two girls. 
Scene : A Schoolroom. Miss Belky seated at her desk ; Scholars, 

laughing and talking pleasantly, but not noisily ; outside the open 

door. Dr. Twist, knocking at the door. 

Miss Belle (opening door). Good morning. Dr. Twist. I'm 
sure it is a pity 
My school is just dismissed, since you are School Committee ! 
Dr. Twist (entering). Never mind, my dear Miss Belle, 
another time will do ; 
I like it just as well to make my call on you. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 19 

Miss B, Loss to my girls and boys, though I shall be the 
winner. 
You must excuse their noise, so many stay to dinner. 
Be seated. Doctor. 

D)\ T. Thanks. Have you a pleasant place ? 

Miss B. Yes ; I like the teacher-ranks. I shall stay here 
all my days. 

Dr. T. Perhaps not so, Miss Belle. It may ere long be 
voted, 
You fill this place so well, you ought to be promoted. 
How do you find your scholars ? 

Miss B. Oh, Doctor, they are queer ! 

They do pronounce so oddly, out in the country here ! 
For instance, it is funny — you'd think so, too, I guess — 
The many different ways they have of saying Yes. 

Dr. T, Call them, and questions ask ; my interest is up. 

Miss B. John Jones, — your morning task, have you pre- 
pared it? 

Jolin J. {enters J cap in hand, replies, goes out). Tup ! 

Dr. T. Ha, ha ! Have in another ; I like the fun. Ha, ha ! 

Miss B. Peter Bogle, is your mother a little better ? 

Peter {enters, replies, retires). Yah! 

Dr, T. Ask next yo'n black-eyed gypsy that stands the w^in- 
dow near. 

Miss B. Bessie Lee, do you like apples ? Would you like 
to have one ? 
Bessie L. Yeali ! 

Miss B. ril call my little Pad, who is never known to miss. 
Do you love your books, my lad ? Tell me truly. 

Fad. Faix, ma'am, yis ! 

Miss B. Come here, you curly-pate. Do you want to be a 
Mayor, 
Or a President so great, or — a School Committee? 

Small Boy {enters, replies very slowly). Aer ! 

Dr. T. They give us so much fun, they certainly repay us. 

Miss B. Kate, is your problem done ? Have you the answer ? 

Kate. A-us ! 

Miss B. Is it not a curious class, a comic recitation ? 

Dr. T. Yes ; though it scarcely wins my official approbation. 
Will you my pupil be, while I a question ask ? 
Will you pronounce for me, if I give you a task ? 

Miss B. Of course, if all the rest have not been fully ample, 
ril do my very best to please with my example. 



20 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Dr. T. I came to seek a wife. If now iny suit I press, 
Will you leave your school for life ? V/hat is your answer ? 
Miss B. {empliatically). Yes ! 

[Teachers are strongly desired to use this exercise to correct these 
erroneous ways of saying "Yes," found in every school.] 



GRANDMOTHER'S BREAKFAST. 

[Grandmother is a very little girl dressed with cap and spectacles, and 
white kerchief pinned smoothly down to her belt. Sally comes in 
and speaks to her, then turns to the Miller, who enters in a white 
miller's frock, and passes off the stage after he has answered. The 
Farmer, with basket of corn, and Ploicman, with driving-whip, do 
the same. At the concert stanza they all come back and stand by 
Grandmother's chair.] 

Sally. Grandmother, grandmother, what shall I do 
To make a breakfast this morning for you ? 

Grandmotlier. 

I'm faint, my Sally, and so you may 
Cook something for me, without delay. 
I'm hungry, my child ; so hurry and make 
Your poor old granny a Johnny-cake. 

Sally. Miller, give me some corn-meal, quick, 
For dear old granny is hungry and sick. 

Miller, You must go to the farmer and bring some grain, 
And if you will make haste back again. 
My windmill the yellow meal shall make, 
And granny shall have her Johnny-cake. 

Sally. Farmer, give me some corn, if you will. 
For miller to grind in his whirring mill. 

Farmer. Go to the plowman, and bid him plow 

And harrow the ground, as he knows how ; 
The golden kernels to plant I'll take, 
And granny shall have her Johnny-cake. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



21 



Sally, Haste, good plowman, harrow and plow ; 
The farmer is waiting for you now. 

Plowman, 

Go to the wind, and rain, and sun. 
And tell them 'tis time their task is done. 
The soil for me they must ready make, 
That granny may have her Johnny-cake. 

AIL So wind, rain, sunshine mellowed the soil ; 

The plowman hastened to do his toil ; 
The farmer planted the shining grain 
All over the plowed and harrowed plain; 
The windmill's wing went whirring round ; 
The miller the golden kernels ground ; 
And dear little Sally made haste to make 
The sweet meal into a Johnny-cake. 
And grandmother said — (Sally gives her a cake.) 

Grandmotlier {taking tlie cake), I'm faint, my dear ! 
As soon as you could you brought it here. 

Sally, But, oh dear me ! how^ many it takes 

To feed poor granny with Johnny-cakes ! 



lEOX — SILVER — GOLD. 



THREE KULES. 



Question, What is the Iron Rule ? 

Answer, The rule of savage men : 
If evil is done unto you, 
Evil do thou again. 
That is the Iron Rule, 

Question, What is the Silver Rule ? 

Answer. The rule of worldly men : 

If good your neighbor does to you, 
Do good to him again. 
That is the Silver Fade, 



22 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Question. What is the Golden Eule ? 

Answer. The rule of righteous men : 
If evil is done unto you, 
• Return thou good again. 
This is the Golden Bule. 



ONE LITTLE GIRL. 

Two little feet on the entry floor ; 
Two little hands at the school-room door ; 
Two little lips with a morning kiss ; 
One little girl we shall always miss. 

Two little feet walk the heavenly mead ; 
Two little hands will the angels lead ; 
Two little lips sing the new-made song ; 
One little girl in the angel throng ! 

God knoweth best whom to call to go ; 
God knoweth best whom to leave below ; 
Blest be the name of our Lord, let us say, - 
Blest when he giveth, or taketh away ! 



HURRY ALONG. 

{For four Little Girls.) 

First. Spring ! spring ! over the mountains. 

Why don't you hurry along ? 

All. We want you to breathe where the white snow-drift 
lingers ; 
We want you to untie the brooks with your fingers ; 
We want you to wake up the slumbering fountains. 

First. Spring ! spring ! over the mountains. 

Why don't you hurry along ? 

Second. Birds ! birds ! far away flying, 
Why don't you hurry along ? 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 23 

All, We want you to wake us at dawn with your singing \ 
We want the air full of your jubilant ringing; 
We want to see bluebird and robin home hying. 

Second, Birds ! birds ] far away flying, 

Why don^t you hurry along? 

TJiird. Flowers ! flowers ! silently sleeping, 

Why don't you hurry along ? 

AIL We want to see Snowdrop, and Crocus, and Lily, 
And beautiful Iris, and Dafiy-down-dilly ; 
Too long in your underground beds you are keeping. 

Third, Flowers! flowers! silently sleeping, 

Why don't you hurry along ? 

Fourth. Joy ! joy ! hearing us calling, 

Soon they will hurry along ! 

All, The Spring will soon set all the brooklets a-flowing, 
The birdies to singing, the blossoms a-growing ; 
Soon, all o'er the land, her fair feet shall be falling. 
Joy ! joy ! hearing us calling. 
Soon they will hurry along ! 



LILIAN'S NAMES. 

{Recitation for one or four Little Girls.) 

At dewy dawn, at misty morn, 
When o'er the woodlands hilly 

Her little feet fly swift and fleet, 
We call her Meadov)-Lily, 

And when she goes where, singing, flows 
The brook's blue water chilly. 

And plashes through the wavelet blue, 
AVe call her Water-Lily, 

But, ah ! one day, I blush to say, 
When she was wild and willy. 

And strove at bay to have her way, 
We called her Tig er- Lily ! 



24 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

But what a shame to bear such name, 

To be so rude and silly ! 
She'll try, Fm sure, to be so pure, 

We'll call her sweet Day-Lily, 



THE WALK. 

{For very Little Ones.) 

Mary. Sister, see this pretty flower ; 

We've been walking for an hour, 
Ann and I, and mother too ; 
Here, 111 give this one to you. 

Nelly, Thank you ; 'tis a pretty thing. 
Did you hear the robins sing. 
Sitting in the branches high, 
Soaring to the sunny sky? 

Mary, Yes ; and more than that we heard. 
Answering the mother-bird, 
Little robins in a nest, 
Chirping as they sank to rest. 

Nelly. Mother says &ome naughty boys, 
If they heard this pretty noise. 
Would the little birdies take, 
Though the mother's heart should break ? 

BotJu Ah ! how sad, and wicked, too ! 
Such a thing we'll never do ! 
We will love each little thing, 
Then sweet birds for us will sing ! 



IT IS I. 

{For four Little Girls, one acting as Teacher,) 

TeacJier, When I hear Kitty on the stair. 

And listening sav, " Ah, who comes there ?*' 
Must Kitty say ''It's me''1 

Kitty, No, no ! To be correct I'll try, 

And always answer, " It is /." 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



25 



Teaclier. When I say, '* Who not once, to-day, 

Has nauj^hty been, at school or play ? " 
Must Jenny say, " IV s me " ^ 

Jenny, No, no ! To be correct I'll try, 

And always answer, " It is I" 

Teacher. When I say, " Who missed not one word 
In any les'^on I have heard ? " 
Must Nelly say, " Ifs me " ^ 

Nelly. No, no ! To be correct I'll try, 

And always answer, '' It is /." 

Teaclier. Yes, that is right. Should any tongue 
Of anybody, old or young. 
Be heard to say " IVs me "? 

All. No ! They to be correct should try, 

And always answer, " It is IP 



WHEX ARE WE HAPPIEST? 

{Let two very Little Ones sing this to the time ^^ America,") 

Mary, Is it when birds and flowers 

Gladden the long, bright hours 
In sweet spring-time ? 

Aima. No ; spring-lime will not stay, 

And all the flowers of May 
Fade, and birds fly away 
To some warm clime. 



Mary. Is it when pretty toys 

Add to our childish joys, 
Making us glad ? 

Anna. No; for if then we find 

One hand to strife inclined, 
One heart with thoughts unkind. 
How soon we're sad ! 



26 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Mary, Is it when childhood's days 

Are spent in wisdom's w^ays 
Of pleasantness ? 

Anna, Yes ; let us sing and say, 

If we are good each day, 
Joy shall our onward way 
Forever bless. 



GEOGRAPHICAL CHARADE : RHODE ISLAND. 

Syllable 1: RHODE, {Two Travellers meet,) 
First, How did you come to town ? 
Second, I rode in my coach, my lad. 
First, For me, the boatman rowed me down, 
The road he said was so bad. 

Syllable 2 : I. {Same Characters. One examines the eye 
of the other.) 
, First. 1 think in your eye 1 something see, 
When your eye with my eye I eye. 
Second. Aye, if your eye you rest on me, 
In my eye a mote you'll spy. 

Syllable 3 : LAND. {Same Characters.) 

You came by water and I by land. 
Did you land upon the beach ? 
First, Oh, no ; we rowed with a steady hand, 
The nearer land to reach. 

The Whole : ERODE ISLAND. {A Little Girl rests on a 
shield, with the Arms of Rhode Island. See Webster's 
Unabridged Dictionary f p. 1755. She recites.) 

Little Girl. 
She 's one of a double trio, New England's daughter sweet ; 
She sits where the Ocean washes her little, dainty feet. 
She's a favorite niece of Uncle Sam, and always has he showed, he 
Holds dear, as any sister of hers, his pretty *' Little Rhody." 
She leans on her Anchor that tells of Hope ; Mount Hope is 

her highest highland ; 
She's small of stature, but great of soul; do you see she is — 

Audience, Rhode Island. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 27 

ACTING CHARADE: PENNSYLVANIA. 

[Brother and Sister, sitting at a table ; the latter writing.'] 

Siste7\ Lend me your knife, if you please ; 

This pen is so blunt and old. 
Brother. You would write with greater ease 

AVith a pen of steel or gold. 

{Xoise of a hammer is heard outside.) 

Sister. Oh, what a clamor 

AVill makes with that hammer ! 

I wish he would learn more quiet habits. 
Brother. Let him work ; he is building a pen for his rabbits. 

(Will enters, laughing, and stumbling over the door-sill.) 

' Sister. What is the matter? Oh, careless Will ! 
Will {rubbing his shins). I believe you're afraid I have broken 

the s-i'l'l. 
Brother. Of one thing, surely, we cannot complain : 
Of elegant manners our Will is not vai?i. 

Will. I was laughing at Peter : he wants his mamma. 
I said, " Is she lost ? '' and he said, "Ja/i / " 
It sounded so comical ! ha ! ha ! ha ! 
When little black Peter said ^'Yah! yah! yah! " 

Hesume. 

Brother (to Sister, emphatically). You mend the Fen. 

Sister {to Will). The sill you broke. 

Will {to Brother). You say I am not vain. 

Brother {to Will). And when poor Peter cries you " yah .'" 

You laugh us " yah ! " again. 
Sister {to Audience). Now who can see the State we've made 
In geographical Charade ? 

{While the audience or school give the tvord, let the curtain rise 
upon a statue of Fenn. See *' Higginson^s U. S. 'History.'* 
Or dress a very little boy in complete Quaker dress, and 
surround him with thick green branches, as though he ivere 
in a wood.) 



28 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

THE COLONY ; oe, FAR AWAY TO IDAHO* 

\A Boy^ with knapsack and staff, comes upon the stage. In response to 
his call, Soldiers, Carpenters, etc., come up from the school, in 
groups of two or more ; as the number increases thcv move on, 
down the outer aisle, until they make a line quite around the room. 
All bring with them tbcir tools and implements. This may be 
used as a recitation, but it is much better with music] 

Boy. I'm bound to raise a colony, to start for Idaho ; 
In all this pleasant company, oh, who would like to go? 

Soldiers. You need an escort bold and brave, to guard you 
on your way. 
. We soldier boys our guns will have, and start this very day. 
All. Hurrah! hurrah! boys, who will go 
Far away to Idaho ? 

Lwnhermen. We'll bring the axe, we lumbermen, and hew 

the timber down ; 
Carpenters. We carpenters will saw it, then, and build a' 

splendid town. 
Farmers. AVe farmer boys will sow the ']Dlain, and reap the 

golden field. 
Millers. We millers all will grind yom' grain, the meal and 

flour to yield. 
All. Hurrah ! hurrah I boys, etc. 

Two Gills, In garments worn and shabby made you soon 
would have to go. 
We girls will needles take, and thread, and neatly for you sew. 

Oilier Girls. And we the snowy flour will take and briskly, 
gaily knead ; 

Others. AVe'll charn the golden cream, and make sweet but- 
ter for your bread. 

All. Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

Smiths. Your iron tools will broken be; our anvils we will 

bring, 

And blow on blow, with merry glee, shall from our hammers ring. 

Shoemakers. The Kocky Mountains tramping o'er, your 

shoes will be worn out, [stout. 

We shoemakers will make you more, and sew them strong and 

AIL Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

* Taken, by permission, from Murray's *' School Chimes," pub- 
lished by fc>. lirainard's Sons, Cleveland, Ohio. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 29 

Two Girls, And we, on every Monday morn, will wash your 
garments clean, 
And stretch our lines across the lawn, or o'er the meadows green. 
Others. On Tuesday we will iron them, and make them 
smooth and nice ; 
On Wednesday we will stitch and hem, and mend them in a 
trice. 
All. Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

Soldiers, When we, the bonny boys in blue, have safely 
brought you there, 
We'll gaily hunt the forest through, and kill the deer and bear. 
Builders. We'll build a sacred temple there, a schoolhouse 
we will have ; 
And just beneath the cross so fair, the Stars and Stripes shall 
wave. 
All. Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

Tico Girls. We girls your stockings warm will knit, the 
fine soft wool will spin ; 
And weave you garments strong and fit to do your labor in. 
Others. When you are sick, we'll smooth your brow, and 
cheer you when you're sad, 
And sing you songs, as we know how, to keep your spuits glad. 
All. Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

Minister. I'll be your minister, to preach ; 

Doctor. 1*11 doctor all your ills. 

Teacher. I'll be your schoolmistress to teach, 

Laicyer. And I will make your wills. 

Postmaster. I'll keep the Post-ofiice for you and send your 

letters well ; 
Merchant, And I the spring styles gay and new of cahcoes 

will sell. 
AIL Hurrah ! hurrah ! boys, etc. 

Leader. Now let us clasp the friendly hand, and promise, 
one and all, 
To keep a true, unbroken band, whatever may befall. 
So give a cheer, brave company, for Idaho the fair. 
And for the splendid Colony Tm bound to carry there. 

{All march around the room, on and off the stage and out.) 



30. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

"I" OR "HI"? 

{Tico Boys, dressed as newly arrived Emigrants, meet.) 

Tat, Good morning, Johnny Bull ; and it's wishing each 
other a welcome to Ameriky, that we'll be afther, for sure I 
see ye've jist come over ! An' where are ye going ? 

Johnny B. To (H)Idaho {pronouncing with the aspirate). 

Pat To '' hide a hoe ! " An' what'll ye hide a hoe for ? 

Johnny B. I didn't say " 'Ide a 'oe." I said {H) Idaho. 

Fat. Sure an' I'll niver know w^hat ye mane till ye put the 
spell to it. 

Johnny B. Spell it ? I-d-a-h-o — (H)Idaho. 

Fat. Is it Idaho you mane ? 

Johnny B. Yes ; (H)Idaho. 

Fat (tossing up his hat, and laughing heartily as they go 
out). " Yes, Hide-a-hoe ! " Well, be off wid ye, and hide a 
hoe if ye will, and good luck to ye ! 



LOST STATES AND TERRITOEIES. 

{A Blackboard Exercise.) 

[Write this upon the blackboard. As soon as a scholar sees and finds a 
name, let him raise a hand and be sent to the board to draw a line 
under the letters forming the name.] 

Is all the ore gone in the mine you delve ? 

The columbiad was used in eighteen hundred twelve. 

The cut — ah, me ! it smarts like flame. 

Louis, I anagram your name. 

Birds of the north, carol in a dale ; 

Birds of the south, carol in a vale. 

Adel a war engaged in with Aden. 

Said I, O wait for me, pretty maiden. 

Noah reached from the ark, an' sassafras picked he. 

Will you go to the Calif, or Niagara to see ? 

I knew Yorkshire is in England ; did you ? 

I knew Jersey is in the English Channel, too. 

Oh, doctor, ill I noise can bear. 

Sailors miss our Indian summer air. 

In Diana you see a goddess fair. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 31 

The Neva dashes a rushing race. 

Put a comma in every proper place. 

When storm-shaken, tuck your pants in your boots. 

Give Mary landaus for riding, her taste it suits. 

Once I had a cot ; ah, now I have none ! 

But oh, I ought never to live alone. 

Two towns to connect, I cut a railroad between. 

His face was florid at morning when seen. 

Thalaba made ])oet Southey's fame. 

Rage or giant despair o'ercame. 

I shall do some washing to-night, she said. 

Eternal snows cover Mont Blanc's head. 

It exasperates me to hear that sound. 

Mount Ida houses have galleries around. 

Many a color a dolphin shows ere dead. 

The common tanager is partly red. 

I can teach you to make nice Indian bread. 

*' Were the tastes of Penn sylvan ? '' I asked of Ned. 

Morn is dewy ; O mingle with us, he said. 

Come, missis, sip pigeon broth made at the fire. 

Raphael's Virgin I always admire. 



GEOGRAPHY. 

{For twenty Little Boys.) 

First. You came to see us read and spell, 
And make gymnastic motions ; 
Then, if we sang and counted well, 
We suited all your notions. 

Second, If, with eight fingers and two thumbs, 
We showed we'd not neglected 
To add some very little sums, 
'Twas all that you expected. 

Third. You'll be astonished when you've found 
Geography ice^re learning ! 
And that we know the earth is round, 
And on its axis turning. 



32 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 



Fourth. Round, like this cent? {Sliowing one.) 
All, No ; not at all ! 

Fourth. Round like this pencil ? {Showing one.) 
All No ! 

Fourth, But it is round like this round ball, 
And turning round, just so. 

Fifth, Upon the earth is lovely land, 

With many a pretty dwelling ; 
And 'round the earth, on every hand, 
Blue ocean waves are swelling. 

Sixth, The ocean ! that's the biggest thing 
There is in all creation ! 
And ships sail over it, to bring 
The wealth of every nation. 

Seventh. A gulf or bay is where the sea 
Into the land goes far. 
Mexico Gulf and Hudson's Bay 
My best examples are. 

Eighth, A lake is water where the land 
On every side is found. 
A pond is just a httle lake. 
I sail boats on a pond. 

Ninth. A river is a stream that flows 

Through land for miles away ; 
The Mississippi southward goes 
Three thousand miles, they say. 

Tenth, Upon the earth, on either side. 

Are continents, — I'll show them : {Points.) 
The Western, long ; the Eastern, wide. 
You see how well I know them } 

Eleventh. And where the land, like letter V, 
Goes stretching, in this shape, 
Into the ocean or the sea, 
It is a point or cape. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



33 



Twelfth. Another thing of capes say I, 

To tell a bigger story : 
That when the cape is very high, 
It is a promontory. 

Thirteenth. An island is a piece of land 
With water all around it ; 
So when you walk along the sand 
The waves will always bound it. 

Fourteenth. Don't go a thousand miles away 
To find the names of many ; 
The little isles in Boston Bay 
Are just as good as any. 

Fifteenth. Pen-in-sn-la — that's long, I know, 
But then we all can spell it ; 
These folks the meaning may not know. 
So, John, you'd better tell it. 

Sixteenth. Almost an island. It would be, 
But for this neck of land 
That stretches out across the sea. 

An isle. (To audience.) Bo you understand'^ 

Seventeenth, And by a funny name we call 

These necks, where'er they are ; 
Isthnus, the name of one and all : 
Here's Suez, there's Panama. 

Eighteenth. A mountain 's a tremendous hill ; 

Some, more than five miles high. 
The Andes see now, if you will, 
Pacific Ocean nigh. 

Nineteenth. About the people let me tell : — 
In all earth's various places 
The children of one Father dwell, 
Though they're of different races. 

Twentieth. The White men of our own dear land, 
The Indian red and wild. 
The Brown men of the desert sand, 

And Afric's Negro child. 
3 



84 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

In concert. And now, lest weary you should grow, 

We say, Itere ends our lesson. 
Of course, from what you've heard, you know 

That we are bound to press on. 
And learn, each season, more and more 

Of every land and nation, 
Of every sea and every shore, — 

In short, of all creation, 

[Let every division be shown on the map with a long pointer ; show 
with ball and needle how the earth turns ; make motions with hands 
for long and wide ; make a V with your fingers ; at Pen-in-su-la let all 
spell in concert. After this, sing the following Geography Song.'\ 

Geography Soxg. 

{Music ill ** Golden Robin,"} 

Oh, have you heard Geography sung? 
For, if you've not, it's on my tongue, 
About the earth in air that's hung. 

All covered with green little islands. 
Oceans, gulfs, and bays and seas, 
Channels and straits, sounds if you please, 
Great archipelagos, too, and ail these 

Are covered with green little islands. 

All o'er the earth are water and land, 
Beneath the ships, or where we stand. 
And far beyond the ocean strand 

Are thousands of green little islands. 
Continents and capes there are, 
Isthmus, and then peninsula. 
Mountain and valley, and shore stretching far. 

And thousands of green little islands. 

All o'er the globe great circles are found, 
From East to West some stretch around, 
Some go from North to Southern bound, 

Right over the green little islands. 
Great equator, tropics two ; 
Latitude lines, longitude, too ; 
Cold polar circles, and all these go through 

The thousands of green little islands. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 35 

Oh, don't you think 'tis pleasant to know 
About the sea and land, just so, 
And how the lines and circles go 

Right over the green little islands ? 
Now you hear how we can sing, 
This is, to-day, all we can bring ; 
Come again soon, and then you shall hear sung 

The names of the green little islands. 



GEOGRAPHICAL CHARADE. 

{For two Little Ones.) 

(A Little Girl loifh long, crimpedhair enters, tossing her hair 
and running across the stage, as she recites her couplet.) 

Teacher. The Charade word has but one syllable. 

Little Girl. K I were a colt, I should toss it, — so, — 
As I cantered along the shore. 

Boy {enters in Sailor'' s dress). 

If I were a sailor, across it I'd go, 
And maybe not come home any more. 

Both {coming to the front). 

'Tis the farthest first of a glorious number, 
And, like an old garret, his, full of lumber. 
We'll help you by saying it is a State ; 
And now for your answer you see us wait. 

Little O. {goes to map). 

Now, while you are guessing, I'll make it plain, 
For don't you see that I point to — 

{All cry) Maine! 



A WISE DECISION. 

{For Valentine's Day.) 

On little Annie's valentine, 
With long hair all a-curl. 

With gay guitar, and doublet fine, 
A-singing to his girl, — 



36 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

A love-lorn troubadour is seen. 

Said Annie : " Jamie, say, 
Is dat de man will ask to me 

Come live wiv him, some day ? " 

Said Jamie, wiser by a year, 
And bent on having fun : — 

" Yes, that*s his picture, Nannie dear, 
He's just the very one ! " 

Soft tremors both the red lips stir. 

She says : "Den, Jamie brovver, 
I'll tell him, ^ No, I fank you, sir, 

I'd rawer live wiv muvver !' " 



FOR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



SONG.— BIRTHDAY BELLS. 

Tune : " Mount Vernon Bells," (in " Golden Robin") 

AYhen the white-sailed ships are going 

Downward to the bay, 
AVhere Potomac's stream is flowing 

On its seaward way. 
By Mount Vernon's willows, telling 

Of our hero's grave. 
Bell-tones, morn and night, are swelling 

O'er Potomac's wave. 

Clionis. Tolling ! tolling ! 

With a sad, sweet knell ; 
Ever going by INIount Vernon, 
Kings the passing bell. 

But to-day our Country's Father, 

On the land or sea. 
Where thy sons and daughters gather, 

Glad we think of thee ! 
Joyful songs this day are ringing. 

Day when thou wast born ; 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 37 

Songs of grateful children, singing 
Of thy birthday morn. 
Chorus, Ringing ! ringing ! 

^^'hile glad echo tells 
Ships that this day pass Mount Vernon 
Ring glad birthday bells ! 



THAT LITTLE HATCHET. 

{Pantoinime.) 

[Charactees. — Mr. Washington y Mrs. Washington^ George, Gar- 

dener, Gardener's Boy, Servant, Peddler. 
Costumes. — Copy from portraits and figures of early American times.] 

Scene. 1. — A parlor. Mr. and Mrs. Washington sit at a 
table ; the former reading, the latter knitting. A knock is at 
the door. Mrs. Washington turns to the servant, and seems to 
bid him open the door. He does so ; returns ; seems to tell her 
of a peddler at the door. The peddler is seen through the door 
ajar. He enters ; bows very respectfully to both Mr. and Mrs. 
u . Each politely returns the greeting. Peddler opens his 
pack ; displays various articles. Mrs. W. examines carefully, 
and selects, after seeming to ask advice or opinion of Mr. W. 
Mrs. W. takes from her ])ocket a long, silken purse : finds no 
money ; goes to Mr. W., and asks for some. He takes from 
his pocket an enormous old-fashioned wallet, gives her some 
money ; she pays the peddler, who closes his pack. George 
enters, the pack is reopened, and the peddler takes from it that 
little hatchet. George, jumping up and down with delight, 
seems to beg his mother to buy it for him. She shakes her 
head, shows the sharp edge of the hatchet, seeming to say that 
he would cut himself. George seems to declare earnestly that 
he will be careful ; begs his father to buy it, who shakes his 
head at first, but finally relents, buys it, paying for it from the 
big wallet. He gives it to George, who thanks him with a po- 
lite, old-fashioned bow, bows also to his mother, and then runs 
out the door. Peddler closes his pack again, bows respectfully, 
goes out, and the servant closes the door. 

Scene H. — Mr. W. and the gardener stand by a tree. Mr. 
W. seems to demand " Who cut that tree ? " Gardener assures 
him that he did not, and pointing to his boy, declares that he 
did not. Mr. W. takes the boy by the shoulder ; he whimpers, 



38 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

and shakes bis head for " No ! no ! " Mr. W. shakes him. 
Boy cries. George rushes in, his little hatchet in his hand ; 
falls on his knees, in a comical attitude, one hand pointing to 
the tree, the other to the hatchet. Then puts one hand on his 
heart, and seems to be sayhig, " I cannot tell a lie ! I did it 
with my little hatchet ! " Gardener and boy raise their hands 
as high as possible in admiring astonishment. Mr. W. stretches 
his arms at arm's length, seeming to say, " Come to my arms ! " 
Mrs. W. and the peddler enter, and lift up their hands in surprise 
and admiration. All stand thus for a i^td-light tableau. 



TWO PORTHAITS. 

{Recitation.) 

Two pictures fair our schoolroom grace : — 

A noble matron one, 
With calm, fair brow and placid face, — 

'Tis Martha Washington ; 
And Washington, whose strong right hand 

Through dark hours led the way, 
Until our glad, united land 

Rejoiced in Freedom's day. 

The " Father of his Country," he, — 

His face shall teach our youth 
As loyal as their sire to be 

To freedom, love, and truth ; 
While maidens learn, as her dear face 

They reverent look upon. 
To serve with love, or rule with grace, 

Like Martha Washington. 

[When it is possible, have the two portraits as above. Otherwise use 
" Animated Pictures," as follows.] 

Animated Pictures. 

Let the curtain be drawn away from the Portraits ; two large 
frames, behind, and, in effect, in which are full-length figures, 
a very little boy and girl dressed in the Washington costume. 
Show them first as a tableau ; at the second removal of curtain, 
let them bow to each other, and to the audience, with the formal 
dignitv of Washino'ton's time. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 39 

THE WASHINGTOXS AT TEA-TABLE. 

{Tableau and Pantomime.) 

Make a pretty scene with the same figures used in ^^ Animated 
PicturesJ^ In front of the stage have an old-fashioned table, 
set as for tea, \vith antique silver, china, furniture, &c, A ser- 
vant, in the Washington livery, opens the door ; Washington 
conducts Martha Washington to the table with extreme old- 
time courtesy. The door is closed, the servant takes his place, 
and Washington bows as in asking a blessing. Hold this po- 
sition as tableau. 

Tableau Second: Mrs. "Washington in the act of making tea. 



OUR FLAG, 

{For July Fourth^ or June Fourteenth, the Anniversary of the 
Adoption of the Flag.) 

Little Girl {with a flag). 

Tell me, who can, about our flag, 

With its red, and white, and blue ; 
How came it to have so many stars, 
And of pretty stripes so few .^ 

Little Boy. 

The thirteen stripes are for thirteen States, 

That first into union came, 
For each new State we have added a star, 

But have kept the stripes the same. 

Anotlier Girl. 

The number has now reached thirty-eight ; 

So here's an example for you : 
Take the '' old thirteen " from thirty-eight, 
And how many States are new P 

First Boy {going to the hoard). 

Thirteen from thirty-eight ? Let's see : 

Well, three from eight leaves five ; 
And one from three leaves two. There'll be, 

Bemainder, — twenty-five ! 



40 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Little Girl. 

And these all reach from east to west. 

On both the ocean shores ; 
And over all this proud flag waves 

And the Bird of Freedom soars ! 



AUTUMN'S QUEEN. 

[For this piece tlie stage must be decorated with autumn leaves and 
evergreens. The Throne should be elegant with the most brilliant 
leaves and autumn floAvers. The Chorus may stand in a semicir- 
cular line, partly on one side of the stage, so that they may nearly 
face the audience and the Queen at the same time. The Solo Voices 
come forward as -wanted. There must be a Wand or Sceptre of 
autumn leaves. The Queen has two attendants who lead her on, 
receive the gifts, present them to the Queen, and afterward deposit 
them upon an altar of leaves and flowers. Each one who enters or 
retires, salutes the Queen.l 

CJiorus (sing or recite). 

The cheerful, joyous season, 

The Autumn-time is come ; 
With song and shout we welcome 

The golden harvest home. 

The Queen enters ; the two attendants sing or sai/ : 

This fair and lovely maiden, 

With beauty's royal mien, 
Shall, with our treasures laden, 

Be ours and Autumn's Queen. 

{They lead her to the throne.) 

Chorus. The cheerful, joyous, &c. 

Enter a groitp, deched\oiih Autumn leaves, bringing axcreath 
of Aiiiamn leaves for the Queen. They sing : 

We come from forests olden. 

Where, strewn upon the ground, 

Lie Autumn leaflets, golden. 
Flung lavishly around. 

A crown of these we're bringing, 
The brightest ever seen, 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 41 

{Full Chorus joins wliile the QUEEN is being crowned.) 

To crown thee, while we're singing, 
O lovely Autumn's Queen. 

Enter a group with bouquets of AUtUMx FloweKS. 

We come from wild-wood bowers^ 

And from the shady dell, 
With Autumn's bright-hued flowers, 

The offering to swell. 
A sceptre we are twining 

Of flowers and vine-leaves green. 

Full Chorus. Keceive this sceptre shining ; 

Be ours and Autumn's Queeu. 

Enter a group icitli small sheaves of GRAIN and coHN. 

AYe come from hillsides, gleaming 

With ripened golden grain, 
Whose sunny glow is streaming 

O'er smiling field and plain. 
Where gladsome shouts are ringing, 

As merry maidens glean j 
Fidl Chorus, Our sheaves to thee we're bringing^ 

bounteous iVutumn's Queen. 

Enter a group icith small baskets of fruit, prettdu arranged. 

And we the glowing treasure 

Of many a bending tree, 
In fullest, freest measure, 

Come offering to thee. 
Our fruits with hues are beraning 

That on thy cheek are seen ; 

Full Chorus. Their «mile like thine is gleaming, 
O radiant Autumn's Queen. 

Enter a group with clusters of grapes. 

And we come, gaily bearing 

The clusters of the vine ; 
The purple hues they're wearing 

With brighter tints combine ; 
To thee our vine-wealth bringing, 

maiden so serene ; « 



42 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Full CJioriiS, We join our sisters, singing, 
Beloved Autumn's Queen. 

TJie Queen sings, 

O subjects good and loyal, 

Your tributes bright and fair 
Shall have my praises royal, 

For goodly gifts they are. 
Now, while each heart rejoices. 

Oh, join in sweetest chime, 
And lift your tuneful voices 

In praise of Autumn-time. 

{All sing. At the last stanza all join hands and icind off the 
stage in some pretty dance, the Queen and attendants fol- 
lowing.) 

Autumn Soxg.* 

Sing ! sing ! sing ! the Autumn-time has come ! 

With merry song and gleeful shout. 

We weave our dances in and out. 

And wind our lovely Queen about, 
As we sing our harvest-home. 

Sing ! sing ! sing ! the Autumn-time has come ! 

And just as they, in days of yore. 

To Ceres brought their golden store, 

We lay our gifts our Queen before. 
As we sing our harvest-home. 

Sing ! sing ! sing ! the Autumn-time has come ! 

The ripened fruit and bending grain 

Fling golden glow o'er hill and plain, 

And smile the sunshine back again, 
As we sing our harvest-home. 

Sing ! sing ! sing ! the Autumn-time has come ! 
• And gaily down the closing year, 
With song, and dance, and shouts of cheer, 
We'll sound thy praises, Queen most dear, 

As we sing our harvest-home. 

* From " The Linnet," by permission of John Church & Co., Cin- 
cinnati. Though given here for recitation, it is much prettier with 
the inusic. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 43 

A NOVEIMBER DAY. 

[A Little Child, with golden hair, dressed in gray tarlatan or muslin, 
ornamented with a few maple leaves, birch leaves, ferns, &c., which 
she touches as she mentions them. At ^^ golden light" she puts 
her hand to her head. If possible, let her hold a branch of witch- 
hazel "wdth its yellow blossoms, that bloom in November.] 

I COME, a sad November day, 

Gray clad from foot to head ; 
A few late leaves of yellow birch, 

A few of maple red. 

And, should you look, you might descry 

Some wee ferns, hiding low, 
Or late Fall dandelions shy, 

Where cold winds cannot blow. 

And then, you see, I'm not all gray ; 

A little golden light 
Shines on a sad November day, 

A promise for the night. 

For though gray-clad, in soft gray mist, 

Floating on gray- cloud wing, 
I know that I the \7ay prepare 

For brightest days of Spring. 

And though witch-hazePs golden flowers 

Are all the blooms I know. 
They promise — so do I — the hours 

When sweetest Mayflowers grow. 



LA CHANSON DE L'HIV^ER. 

WIJsTER SONG. 

No more the birds, les oiseaux, sing ; 

The trees, les arbres, their leaves have lost ; 
See snow, la neige, o'er everything, 

And feel la gelee, or the frost. 
L^Hivei\ the Winter, now has come. 

Bringing us No'6l, Christmas-day ; 
Les ruisseauXf brooks, with ice are dumb, 

And in the snow les en/ants play. 



44 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Decemhre, December, JantieVi 

Or January, these are two 
Of Winter's months ; then Fevrier, 

The short month, and VHiver is througL 
So let the leaves, les feuiUes, fly ; 

Southward, au siid, the birdhngs go ; 
They'll back again come by-and-by. 

When Spring, le Frintemps^ melts the snow. 



THE THREE SIEVES. 

Child, O MOTHER ! do hear what a tale Fve heard, — 

So bad I can scarce believe ! 
Mother. Stop, stop, my child ! not a single word, 

Till we sift it through the sieve. 

Child. *' The sieve ? " The meaning of what you've said 

I certainly do not know. 
Mother. The Sieve of Truth ; through its golden thread 

Are you sure the story will go ? 

Child. No, not quite sure ; but you must believe — 

It is told all over town ! 
Mother. Stop, stop, my child ! through another sieve 

Let us sift this matter down. 

Child. " Another sieve ? " What can it be ? 

You certainly make me laugh ! 
Mother, The silver sieve. Is it kind ? Let's see 

If it leaves us grain or chaff. 

Child, No, not quite kind ; but cannot I 

Tell my mother the worst or best? 

Mother, Stop, stop ! by the iron sieve we'll try 
One more, and a final test. 

Child. And what is the iron sieve ? full well 

Its test I would hke to know. 
Mother, It is this, my child : Is there need to tell 9 
^ If not, let the story go. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 45 

Child. It is needless to fell, may not he true. 

And I'm sure it is not kind. 
MotJier. Then I'd let it go, if I were you, 

Like the chaff before the wind. 



CHPvISTJMAS GIFTS, OR WHAT WE DO AT 
OUR HOUSE. 

{For four Little Girls.) 

First Girl (to Second). 

What do you do at yoitr house, 
"When Christmas eve is nigh ? 
Second Girl. 

We stretch a line at the chimney-side, 
And mother sees it is strongly tied ; 
Then hang our stockings, and go to bed ; 
And just as soon as our prayer is said 
We wonder and gue<s, till asleep we fall, 
What Santa Claus has for one and all. 
Then, long before daylight, we haste to pull 
From the line l^y the chimney our stockings full. 
And that's what we do at our house. 

What do you do at your house, {to Third.) 

When Christmas eve is nigh ? 

Third Girl. 

We have in the parlor a Christmas tree. 
And each has his own little mystery 
In hanging upon the branches green 
His gifts for the others, by them unseen. 
Then mother goes in, the candles to light, 
And everything is so gay and bright ! 
You ought to be there our joy to see 
AYhen we have our gifts from the Christmas tree ! 
And that's what we do at our house. 

What do you do at your house, {to Fourth.) 
When Christmas eve is ni^h ? 



46 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Fourth Girl, 

We hear in the evening a rousing ring ; 
We hurry the door to open fling ; 
And, sure as you. live, with his long, white hair, 
And jolly, red face, Santa Claus is there ! 
He opens his pack, — we laugh and shout. 
And take the presents he tosses about. 
Then he's off ; but, just after his visit is o'er, 
Uncle John comes in at the other door! 
And that's what we do at our house. 

What do you do at your house, {to First.) 

When Christmas eve is nigh ? 
First Girl. 

We, too, hang stockings; but mother says 
One thing we must do, all Christmas days, 
Just as sure as they come, just as long as we live : 
Some gifts to the poor we must always give. 
So she fills a basket on Christmas eve, 
And tells us just where our gifts to leave. 
Would you know how the best time at Christmas is found ? 
Help Santa Claus carry his basket around j 
For thafs what we do at our house, 
When Christmas eve is nigh. 



WHAT NOT TO DO. 

I CANNOT tell you much to do, 

Because I am so small ; 
But here are things, a very few. 

You must not do at all. 

You little boys must not be cross, 

Nor fret at one another. 
Small girls, you must not make a fuss, 

Nor any such a bother. 

You happy all the day must be. 

And playful as my kitty ; 
If you can't be as good as she, 

I think it is a pity. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 47 

IF A BROTHER. 

If a brother meet a brother, 

Fallen very low, 
Should a brother leave a brother, 

Farther down to go ? 
Every body needs a body, 

Kindly words to say, 
When a brother meets a brother 

Falling by the way. 

If a brother meet a brother. 

Let him understand 
That a brother needs a brother 

With a helping hand. 
Every body should a body 

Help as best he may. 
When a brother meets a brother 

Falhng by the way. 



LILIAN RECEIYBS, AT NEW YEAR'S. 

(^ Temperance Recitation for a Little Girl.) 

Such an elegant time, you may believe, 

I shall have on New Year's Day ! 
I asked my mother could I " receive," 

And she says I certainly may. 

The loveliest cards I shall send to all 

My acquaintance of gentle hoys, 
And when they make me their New Year's call, 

I can show them my Christmas toys. 

Kate says she will make me a New Year's cake, 

As white as a bank of snow ; 
And ril ask them cold ivater with me to take ; 

I'm a Temperance girl, you know. 

And one thing is sure, you may all depend, 
From this first New Year's of mine, 

I never will give one single friend 
One single drop of wine. 



48 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Not I ! I think 'twas a dreadful shame, — 
For / saw, I saw the folly, — 

Last year, when Marian's callers came, 
As they said, ^^ uncommon J olli/ 1 '^ 

So it always shall be at my New Year's 

Exactly as I have stated : 
I shall give cold water, and then, my dears, 

You will not get in-tox-i-cat-ed ! 



A DEEADFUL THING. 

If God had meant that wine should be 
Drink for each son and daughter, 

He would have made the streams and sea 
Of wine instead of water. 

With wine in every gushing spring ! 
Oh, what a dreadful, dreadful thing ! 



MASSACHUSETTS GIRL'S TEMPERANCE 
SPEECIL. 

Burns says of Nature, (do you know 
That in his song he tells us so ?) 

" Her 'prentice han' 

She tried on man. 
And then she made the lasses — ! " 

So Massachusetts thinks that when 
The w^omen on Committee-men 

Have tried their hand, 

Then, in a band, — 
God speed the day ! — they'll have the chance 
To cast their votes on Temperance ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



49 



WHAT CAN THE REASON BE? 

TEMPERANCE. 

First Boy, A little spring by a wayside inn 

Saw ti'avellers every day 
Go, asking for brandy, wine, or gin, 

Ere they journeyed along the way. 
" Oh dear, oh dear !" said the h'ttle spring, 

The little spring said she, 
"It is just as strange as anything. 

That they don't come right to me ! " 

Second Boy. A little brook ran, with merry song, 

Close by the distiller's still ; 
And saw tlie peopie, coming along, 

Go into that whiskey mill. 
" Oh dear, oh dear ! " said the singing brook, 

The singing brook said she, 
" It looks as strange as a thing can look, 

That they don't come right to me ! " 

Third Boy. A deep, deep well looked up to the sky. 

Near the farmer's cellar low, 
And saw the laborers, passing by. 

To the cider-casks to go. 
" Oh dear, oh dear ! " said the deep, deep well. 

The deep, deep well said she, 
" 'Tis as strange a thing as tongue can tell, 

That they don't come right to me ! " 



All. Three little boys stand up in a row, 

And tell this story true ; 
And they cannot teil, for they do not know. 

The reason why. Do you ? 
But one sure thing say the little boys. 

One sure, sure thing say we, — 
The water of well, or brook, or spring. 

Our only drink shall be ! 



50 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 



SPEECH FOR A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 



I'm a Temperance boy ! 

See my ribbon blue ! 
Don't you tbink it's pretty ? 

Ttien you wear one, too ! 



THE TWO BRIGADES. 

Walking early down tbe street, 
In tbe morning, you will meet, 
Keeping time, witb rested feet, 

Tbe tin-pail brigade. 
Wben tbe twelve of noon rings out, 
Round tbe friendly water-spout 
They will dine, those workmen stout, - 

The tin-pail brigade. 

There's another army quite, — 
Such a shuffling, shambling sight. 
In their ragged, wretched plight, 

'Tis the jug brigade. 
When tbe twelve of midnight rings. 
These the ones tbe watchman brings 
And within the guardhouse flings ; — 

'Tis the jug brigade. 

Now, who wouldn't rather be 
These that in tbe morn I see ? 
Ob, all honor give will we 

The tin-pail brigade ! 
But if there is a sight 
We'll despise witb all our might, 
'Tis the stragglers of the night, — 

'Tis the jug brigade. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 51 



I DID IT.— NOT, ''I DONE IT.'^ 

A Little Girl as Teacher. 

If I should ask who won, to-day, 
The game, when you were at croquet ? 

First Girl, I should tell you that I won it ; 

That I did it, — not, *' I done it." 

Teacher. If I should ask who made the kite 

I saw begun, at home, last night ? 

First Boy, I should tell you I begun it ; 

That I did it, — not, " I done it." 

Teacher. If I should ask why Birdie 's hung 

Outside the door, the vines among ? 

Second Girl, I should say I wished to sun it ; 
That 1 did it, — not, " I done it." 

Teacher. If I should ask who spun the top 

That went so long and did not stop ? 

Second Boy. I should tell you that I spun it ; 
That 1 did it, — not, " I done it." 

Teacher, I'm very glad you're so correct ; 

Such vicious terms our speech infect ! 
My school I daily try to teach 
To shun each vulgar form of speech ; 
This worst one, — always shun it ! 
Say, I did it, — not, I done it. 



BREAD-MAKING. 

Boy, How is a loaf of bread made ? 

Girl. Into the flour Bess mixes the yeast. 

And she kneads it and kneads it, a half-hour at least ; 
Then it rises and rises as light as the snows, 
And into the oven it goes ! 



52 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Boy, How is the snowy flour made ? 

Girl, Down to the miller, Dick carries the grain, 

And he grinds it and grinds it, again and again ; 
Then he bolts it and bolts it, as white as the snows, 
And into the barrel it goes ! 

Boy, How is the grain — the wheat made ? 

Girl. Into the farmer's ploughed wheat-land the seed 
He scatters and scatters all over the mead ; 
It ripens and ripens till yellow it grows, 
And into the sheaf it goes ! 

Both, And so, if farmer, and miller, and Bess 
Should loiter and loiter in idleness, 
Should play and should play, their work instead, 
"We should have no grain, no flour, no bread ! 
AVe should starve, we should starve in country and city ; 
And wouldn't that be a pity ! 



WELCOME TO ALL : OX EXAMINATION DAY. 

Mr. Superintendent ! 

We give you a cordial welcome ! 
You are the man who best can tell 
If we have worked and studied well ; 
And I am the boy, with my best bow, 
To thank you for your presence now. 

Mr. School- Commit tee ! 

And Mrs. School-Committee! 

And Miss School- Commit tee ! 

We give you a cordial welcome ! 
We're glad your law has made a* rule 
You once a month shall visit our school. 
Ten visits a year ! with my best bow 
I'll welcome you as I do now. 

Friends, and fathers and mothers ! 
AVe ofive vou a cordial welcome ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



53 



Of course a great many times this year 
You have visited us, our school to cheer ; 
But, more than ever, — with my best bow 
I thank you for your presence now. 

And now, my fellow-scholars, 

I've given our cordial welcome. 
Let us try to do our very best, 
So that fathers, and mothers, and all the rest, 
May say to us, with their best bow, 
" We thank you for your presence, now." 



KATE'S FRENCH LESSON. 

{For two Little Girls.) 

Teacher, Kate, how shall I say, " Come to me " ? 

Kate. You'll bid me, '• Kate, venez ici.^^ 

Teacher, And '• If you please," how shall I say? 

Kate. Pleasantly thus, ma'am, '* S'il votis plait. ^^ 

Teacher, How will you ask me, " How do you do ? " 

Kate. I'll say, " Comment vous portez-vous ? " 

leacher. What if I pain or sickness had? 

Kate. You'd tell me, " Je suis tres maladeJ^ 

Teacher. If very tired, what should I say ? 

Kate. You'd sigh, ^^ Je suis tres fatigue! " 

Teacher. How would you bid *' Good-night " to me ? 

Kate. I'd kiss you, thus, and say " Bonne nuitJ^ 



THE TEMPER-AUNT'S {Temperance?) AWAK- 
' ENING. 

[Scene. — The Aimt sits at a table, writing ; across the room two boys 
and girls are reading from her account-book.] 

Aunt (speaking cressly). 

Be still, you children over there! 

You bother me, I do declare ! 

With all this long report to write, 

To read at Temperance Club to-night ; 

I cannot stand your dreadful noise ; 

Be quiet there, you girls and boys ! {Writing.) 



54 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

(Aside.) I joined the club a week ago, 
Not that 2 needed it — oh, no ! 
But just to work for those who do, 
Our city streets and lanes all through. 

Sam (lookirtg up from account-book). 

See, Nell 1 I find, to my surprise, 
Put down here, *' Brandy for mince-pies ! *' 
Do you suppose Aunt Ann can think 
'Tis right to eat what we can't drink 9 

Aunt (vexed). 

Sam, put that book down, right away ! 
Dear me ! I shan't get through to-day ! 
(Aside.} I never thought of that, 'lis true : 
But what else for the pies will do ? 

Nell (reading). 

Say, Joe, can this be a mistake ? 
I find here written, " Wine for cake." 
If wine is what makes cake so good, 
I'm not surprised men drink ; — I would ! 

Aunt (angry). 

Nell, noisy Nell! what have you there? 
You trouble me too much to bear ! 
(Aside.) Can I be giving them a taste 
For that which ruin brings, and waste ? 

Joe. And I see here a charge for •' Wine 

For jelly." So this aunt of mine 
Is not consistent, though she be 
Most eloquent in Temperance plea ! 

Aunt. Bring me that book ! When I was young, 
This was the word of every tongue : 
*' Children are better seen than heard." 
And I believe it — every word ! 

Alice. Well, auntie, don't be cross, but see 
If you will not with us agree : 
Since " Actions louder. talk than speech," 
You'd better practise first, then — preach ! 

Aunt (rising, laughing). 

You saucy children, though you're right, 
And though you put me in a plight 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



65 



In cooking, yet I must thank you 

For teaching me a thing or two. 

And when to-night the people meet, 

I'll say, " What's wrong to drinks don't eat ! " 



PLAYING RAILROAD. 

Charlie with Katie, his sister, played, — 

The game was " Railroad,'' — and so he said, 

** I'm engine, and I'm conductor, too," 

As he rattled away, '* A-choo ! A-choo ! " 

He'd stop or go on, and call and shout, 

*' All aboard ! " or, *' Passengers out ! " 

And the names of places he knew about — 

'' New York ! " '' Chicago ! " *' Washington Street I " 

But still his passenger kept her seat. 

His knowledge of places grew scant and few, 

And he certainly didn't know what to do. 

So he called out ^^ Heaven ! *' just like a station. 

Little Kate sprang up with an exclamation, — 

Sweet and joyful, glad and clear, — 

*' 'Top ! 'top ! I dess I will det out here ! " 



SEVEN. 

Motion SoxG. Tune: ''Alphabet Song." 
1 Strike fingers on desk. I ^ Move uplifted hand from right to left. 



2 Point up. 



Clasp bauds. 



seven I ' 



One ! ^ two ! * three ! * four ! * five ! ' six ! ' 
Count the lovely arch of heaven ! ^ 
Seven colors make the bow,^ 
Brightest, fairest thing I know.* 

See the rainbow in the heaven ; ' 

One i ' two ! ^ three ! ' four ! * five ! * six ! * seven ! * 

One ! ^ two i ^ three I ^ four ! * five ! ^ six ! ^ seven ! ^ 
Nightly go across the heaven ^ 
Seven bright stars, the Pleiades,* 
And the Lord created these."* 

See the rainbow in the heaven ; * 

One \ ^ two I * three ! ^ four I ' five ! ^ six ! ^ seven ! * 



56 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT. 

Motion Sokg. Tune\ " Nelly Bly." 



1 Fold hands. [ed. 

2 Right hand extend- 
8 Left hand extended. 

4 Right hand lifted. 

5 Left hand lifted. 
'' Fingers twirled. 
7 Hands clasped. 



8 Hands drop. 

» Stand. 

1° Point east. [rises. 
1' Right hand slowly 
^2 Rise higher, [ward. 
13 Hand moves west- 
1* Points to noon sun. 



1^ Turn south. 
i« Hands fall. 
^' Hands move west- 
ward. 
^^ Point to sunset. 
10 Shut eyes. 
20 Lean heads. 



Little ones, little ones, fold each little hand.^ 

What a pleasant sight it is, our kindergarten band I 

Kight," left,^ up,'* up,° hands and fingers go,® 

Now they clasp above the head,'' and now we drop them — so.^ 

llise, my child, rise,^ my child, pointing to the East,'^ 

Where the morning sun ascends, ^^ when misty night has ceased. 

Up,^^ np,'^ on,^^ on,^^ goes the rising sun,'"* 

Till we fold our hands/ at noon, when rosy morn is done. 

Turn to South, *^ turn to South,^* point agam^"* so high, 
Where the sun at noonday lights the blue and smiling sky. 
Down,^^ down,^^ on,*'' on,^^ sinking to the West,*^ 
Till we fold our hands,* at eve, as quietly we rest. 

Shut your eyes,'^ shut your eyes,'^ lean each little head,^^ 
Just as sleepy children do, before they go to bed. 
Sweet morn,*° bright noon,^"* sunset swiftly fly/^ 
Soon we'll watch the evening stars that twinkle in the sky. 



LITTLE TRUANT. 

Recitation with Motions. {For one Boy and four Girls.) 



1 Throw up hands in astonishment. 

2 Shake the head in refusal. 



3 Make a low how. 
* Stamp the foot. 



Little Truant {Boy). 

Birdie, birdie ! up in- the apple-tree, 

Fly down here in the grass, and play all day with me, 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 57 

Bird. 

^ Dear tne ! how can I ? HeiVs this nest to build, 
Kobin's is well-nigh done, and wren's is almost filled. 

*Xo, thank you, little boy; ^I've something better to do, 
I should be ashamed of myself to play all day with you. 

Little Truani. 

Brooklet, brooklet, running along so fast. 
Stop and play with me until the day is past. 
Brooh. 

' Dear me ! how can I? Down in the valley low, 
Cowslips and anemones would all be thirsting so ! 
^No, thank you, little boy ; ^I can't neglect my duty, 
I must hasten to freshen the flowers, and fill the fields with 
beauty. 
Little Truant, 

Honey-bee, honey-bee, flying among the flowers, 
Stop your buzzing, and play with- me, these long, bright 
summer hours. 
Bee, 

Dear me ! how can I? What would the poor bees do 
For honey to eat in winter, who play the summer through? 
*Xo, thank you, little boy. ^In sweet cells deep and low 
Our winter food is waiting for me ; to find it I must go. 

Little Truant. 

Little ant, little ant, why do you swifrly run ? 
Cease your labor, and play with me till setting of the sun. 
Ant. 

^ Dear me ! how can I ? In my palace, underground. 
I'm packing in my winter stores, to keep them safe and 
sound. 
- No, thank you, little boy. ^ If idling with you I go, 
I wonder what would become of me next winter, under 
the snow. 
Little Truant, 

Bird and brooklet, even the bee and ant ; 
AYhen I ask them to stop, all of them sa)', "I can't I " 
I've the greatest mind to turn about, and run to the school- 
room door, 
And tell my teacher 1*11 never again play truant any more ! 
^ 1 will ! Good- by, little bird and bee, little ant, and brook- 
let cool,2 [straight to school.^ 
You neednH tease me to play with you^ Im going right 



58 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

WOMAN'S RIGHTS. 

Motion Song. Tune: " Ti-camp, tramp." 



1 Motion for sewing. 

2 Hands on desk. [board. 
^Motion for washing on wash- 
* Uplift both hands. 

5 Fold hands. 

^ Each girl bows to seat-mate. 

"' Point with right hand to boys. 

8 Motion for driving. 

^ Motion for holdii\g plow. 



^^ Motion for spading. 

11 Motion for sowing seed. 

12 Boys bow to seat-mate. 

13 Boys point to girls. 

"Boys bow to girls, [churning. 
^^Hand up and down, as in 
^^ ^Mixing bread. 
1^ Kolling pastry. 
^^ Girls bow to boys. 



Girls (sing). 

Draw your needles in and out,^ mind what you are all about ; ^ 

Wash your clothes,^ and hang them on the line to dry;'^ 
^ I've good news for you, my dear,^ woman's rights will soon be 
here, 
And the men '' shall mind the kitchen, by and by ! 
Sew,^ sew/ sew,^ my patient sisters ; 
Good time 's coming, by and by ! 
^Fve good news for you, my dear,*^ woman's rights will soon be 
here. 
And the men ^ shall mind the kitchen, by and by ! 

Boys. 

Go along ! gee up ! and whoa ! ^ Oh, how dull the oxen go ! 

Hold the plow,^ and spade the earth, ^^ and sow the rye.^' 
^ I've good news for you, my men,^'^ woman's rights will come, 
and then 
Pretty girls ^^ will do the farming, — let them try ! ^* 
Sow,^^ sow,'* sow,*' my patient brothers ; ^^ 
Good time 's coming,^ by and by ! 
^ Pve good news for you, my men,*^ woman's rights will come, 
and then 
Pretty girls '^ will do the farming, — let them try ! 

Girls. 

Round and round the dasher turn,*^ and the golden butter 

churn. 
Knead the bread, '^ and roll the pastry for the pie ; "*^ 
^Pve good news for all around,^ woman's rights are gaining 

ground, 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 59 

And the time for men ^ to cook is drawing nigh ! 
So, so, so,'*^ my patient sisters, 
Good time 's comini^, by and by ! 
^I've good news for all around,^ woman's rights are gaining 
ground, 
And the time for men '^ to cook is drawing nigh ! 

Boilu 

Oh, you silly people all ! ^ ^^Oh, ye children, great and small ! 

Don't you think we'd better say, just you and I,^ ^^ 
^ I've good news for all to hear,^ ^^ that, whatever is our sphere, 
Just our very best^ therein we'll do and try. 

Yes, yes, yes ! my brothers, sisters, ^^ ^^ 
Good time 's coming, by and by ! 
^ I've good news for all to hear,^ ^"^ that, whatever is our sphere, 
Just our very best^ therein we'll do and try ! 



TEN LITTLE FAIPvIES. 

[At the closing couplet let all the little hands unclasp, and all the 
fingers move, raised high above the head. Music may be found for 
this in "National School Singer," A. S. Barnes & Co., New York. 
Or use it as a recitation.] 

Do you think there are no fairies ? 

Do you think the Fairy Queen 
On midsummer night nowhere is 

In the moonlight to be seen ? 
Hear the story we are telling : 
Ten with us are always dwelling ; 
Ere our song has ceased its swelling 

You shall see them — by and by. 

In sweet summer, when the air is 
Full of fragrance of the flowers, 

Then our busy, little fairies 

Seek the shady dells and bowers ; 

And they bring us pretty posies. 

Lilies, violets, and roses ; 

Ere our fairy story closes 

You shall see them — by and by. 



60 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

When the autumn daj's of glory 
Eipened fruits in clusters fling, 
Then the fairies of our story 

Grapes and apples to us bring ! 
And -when soft, white snow is falling, 
At the merry children's calling 
They will join the gay snow-balling. 
You shall see them — by and by. 

That kind works of love and duty 
In the home, and in the school, 

Make the only way of beauty, 
Is our fairies' golden rule. 

In whatever work their share is, 

More and more we hope their care is 

To be faithful little fairies. 

You shall see them — by and by. 

Softly sound our tuneful numbers. 
For they now are drawing near ; 

Waking up from quiet slumbers. 
Soon our fairies shall appear. 

Now each queen shall forward bring hers ; 

Not a single fairy lingers. 

They are — jast our ten ichite fingers ! 
Don't you see them, dancing by ? 



MASONIC. 

Motion Song. Tune : " Yankee Doodle." 

1 E?ctend left hand. I ^ Shake hands with seat-mate. 

2 Point up. I ^ Fold hands. 

One thing there is, about which folks 

Have very funny notions : 
They seek to learn, with quiz and jokes. 

The true Masonic motions. 

Chorus. This is one ; ^ and this is one ; ^ 
And here you see another ; ^ 
Things by every Mason done 
To each Masonic brother.'* 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 61 

Thus, reaching out the friendly hand,^ 

Or pointing true devotion,^ 
Or greeting each fraternal band,^ 

Is true Masonic motion ! 

Chorus, This is one,* &c. 

And with the hand the heart extends * 

Across the land or ocean. 
With love to God,^ and to our friends,' 

With true Masonic motion.* 
Cliorus, This is one,'^ &:c. 

So serving God, and helping man. 

They ^vays of sin and woe shun. 
And bless the world, as best they can, 

AVilh true Masonic motion. 
Chorus. This is one,^ &c. 



BACKWAKD AXD FORWARD. 

(-4 SpeUing Exercise.) 

[Two scholars stand at the blackboard, one giving the questions, the 
other the answers ; each at the end of his couplet -vvi'itiug the words 
given in capitals in perpendicular lines. Give the correct spelling 
at the close, thus : Flow, ^Volf^ etc.] 

Q. Why is a stream or river's Flow 
So frightful when they backward go ? 

A. The flow turned backward, you shall see, 
A wild and hungry Wolf will be. 

Q. Why is a E.EED that, standing, grows, 
Fleetfooted when it backward goes ? 

A, The reed turned backward, by my hands, 
A swift young Deer before you stands. 

Q, Why is the quiet Star, so bright. 

Turned backward, mischievous by night ? 

A. Because the star, turned back by me, 
Becomes some noisy Rats, you see. 



62 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Q, Why does a Liar, who backward goes, 
Oft wet his feet, and have long toes ? 

A, To wet his feet he cannot fail, 

He walks the marsh a long-toed Rail. 

Boili, Now spell the words on either hand, 
Backward and forward, as they stand. 

[Teachers can arrange similar exercises with many geographical 
names, such as Boston, Not Sob, etc.] 



WHEN I'M A MAN. 

{For very Little Boys.) 

[These recitations should be accompanied by appropriate actions.] 

Ist Boy. When I'm a man, a man, 

I'll be a farmer, if I can, — and I can ! 
I'll plough the ground, and the seed I'll sow ; 
I'll reap the grain, and the grass I'll mow; 
I'll bind the sheaves, and I'll rake the hay, 
And pitch it up on the mow away, — 
When I'm a man ! 

2d Boy. When Fm a man, a man, 

I'll be a carpenter, if I can, — and I can ! 
I'll plane like this, and I'll hammer so. 
And this is the way the saw shall go. 
I'll make bird-houses, and sleds, and boats. 
And a ship that shall race every craft that floats, — 
When I'm a man ! 

3d Boy. When Fm a man, a man, 

A blacksmith I'll be, if I can, — and I can ! 
Clang ! clang ! clang ! shall my anvil ring ; 
And this is the way the blows I'll swing. 
I'll shoe your horse, sir, neat and tight, 
Then I'll trot 'round the square to see if it's right, 
When I'm a man ! 

4ih Boy. When I'm a man, a man, 

A mason I'll be, if I can, — and I can ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, G3 

I'll lay a brick this way, and lay one that ; 
Then take my trowel and smooth them flat. 
Great chimneys Til make. I think I'll be able 
To build one as high as the tower of Babel ! 
When Tm a man ! 

Kith Boy, When Tm a man, a man, 

I'll be a shoemaker, if I can, — wid I can ! 
I'll sit on a bench, with my last held so ! 
And in and out shall my needles go. 
Ill sew so strong that my work shall wear 
Till nothing is left but my stitches there ! 
When I'm a man I 

Qt% Boy, When I'm a man, a man, 

A printer I'll be, if I can, — and I can! 
I'll make nice books, and perhaps you'll see 
Some of my work in " The Nursery." 
I'll have the first reading ! Oh, won't it be fun 
To read all the stories before they are done ! 
When Fm a man ! 

Itli Boy, When Tm a man, a man, 

A doctor I'll be, if I can, — and I can ! 
My powders and pills shall be nice and sweet, 
And you shall have just what you like to eat. 
I'll prescribe for you riding, and sailing, and such ; 
And, 'hove all things, you never must study too much ! 
When I'm a man ! 

8^^ Boy. When I'm a man, a man, 

ril be a minister, if I can, — and I can ! 
And once in a while a sermon I'll make 
That can keep little boys and girls awake. 
For, oh, dear me ! if the ministers knew 
How glad we are when they do get through ! 
When I'm a man ! 

9th Boy, When Fm a man, a man, 

A teacher I'll be, if I can, — and I can ! 
I'll sing to my scholars, fine stories I'll tell, 
ril show them pictures, and, — well, — ah, well, 
They shall have some lessons, — I s'pose they ought ; 
But, oh, I shall make them so very short ! 
When I'm a man ! 



64 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

10th Boy. When I'm a man, a man, 

I'll be School Committee, if I can, — and I can! 
About once a week I'll go into school 
And say, " Miss Teacher, I've made a rule 
That boys and gh'ls need a great deal of play. 
You may give these children a holiday ! " 
When I'm a man ! 

11^^ Boy, When I'm a man, a man, 

I'll be President, if I can, — and I can ! 
My uncles and aunts are a jolly set. 
And I'll have them all in my cabinet ! 
I shall live in the White House. I hope you all, 
When you hear I'm elected, will give me a call, 
When I'm a man ! 

All in concert. When we are men, are men, 

I hope we shall do great things, — and then, 
Whatever we do, this thing we say, 
We'll do our work in the very best way. 
And you shall see, if you know us then, 
We'll be good, and honest, and useful men. 
When we are men ! 



THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. 

{A Kitchen Comedy.) 
Scene : A KitcJien, 

Characteks. — Dolly f the Milkmaid. Jacky her Lover. 
Costumes. — Dolhj wears a sweeping-cap, has her sleeves rolled up, 

and her skirts pinned back. Jack is dressed smartly as a country 

lover. 

Dolly {sweeping briskly). 

Peeping out at the window, who is it I see ? 

Young Jack ! silly Jack ! coming wooing o' me I 
Jack {entering). 

Good-day, pretty Dolly, and how do you do ? 
Dolly {saucily). 

Xot any the better for seeing o' you ! 
Jack {meeldy). 

But I own the house that Jack built 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 65 

BoUy {contemptuously). 

Oh, fie on your house, as still as a mouse, 

"With nothing in it ! 
Your housekeeping — how do you mean to begin it ? 

Jack. There is some malt 

That lay in the house that Jack built. 

Dolly. Oh, fie on your malt ! no meat and no salt ? 
Nobody can eat it ; 
No creature alive — I repeat it. 

Jaclc» There was a rat that ate the malt 

That lay in the house that Jack built. 
Dolly {scornfully). 

Oh, fie on your rat ! what story is that ? 
Tell another to match it ! 

You'd better run home and catch it ! 
Jack {sTieepisJdy), 

There was a cat that caught the rat 
That ate the malt 

That lay in the house that Jack built. 

Dolly. Oh, fie on your cat ! does she tease the rat? 
Poor thing ! I believe it ! 
You'd better run home and relieve it ! 

Jack. I have a dog that worried the cat 

That caught the rat that ate the malt 
That lay in the house that Jack built. 

Dolly. Oh, fie on your cur ! I'm ashamed of you, sir, 
Sweet pussy to worry ! 
Go call off your dog in a hurry ! 

Jack. There is a cow with a crumpled horn 

That tof^sed the dog that worried the cat 
That killed the rat that ate the malt 
That lay in the house that Jack built. 

Dolly. Oh, good for my cow ! I can seem to see how ! 
Nice Mooley ! I'll pat her ! 

She's pussy's friend, that's what's the matter. 
Jack, Are you the maiden all forlorn, 

That milks the cow with the crumpled horn, 

That tossed the dog that worried the cat 

That killed the rat that ate the malt 

That lay in the house that Jack built ? 



66 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Dolly {angrily). 

Who says I'm forlorn ? 
I deny it with scorn ! 
All day I am singing. 
Don't come here, your silly talk bringing ! 

Jack {offering a kiss). 

Here's a man with heart all tattered and torn, 
Would kiss the maiden all forlorn, 
That milked the cow with a crumpled horn, 
That tossed the dog that 

Dolly (interrupting), 

'E-out, 'tout, 'tout ! You may just clear out 

With your house and your malt, 

AVithout meat or salt ; 

With your rat and your cat, 

Your dog and all that ! 
With my cow with the crumpled horn, 

Do you call me forlorn? 

Take your hat and your heart. 

And begone, sir ! Start ! 

Such sauce, sir, as this ! 

To give 7ne a kiss ! 

Clear out o' my door {aliasing him with broo7n), 
And don't you come here any more ! 



WHAT DECEMBER SAYS. 

{Chtistmas Recitation.) 

Open your hearts ere I am gone, 

And hear my old, old story; 
For I am the month that first looked down 

On the beautiful Babe of glory. 
You never must call me lone and drear 

Because no birds are singing ; 
Open your hearts, and you shall hear 

The song of the angels ringing. 

Open your hearts, and hear the feet 
Of the star-led Wise Men, olden ; 

Bring out your treasures of incense sweet ; 
Lay down your offerings golden. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 67 

You say you look, but you see no sight 

Of the wonderful Babe I'm telling ; 
You say they have carried him off, by night, 

From Bethlehem's lowly dwelling. 

Open your hearts and seek the door 

Where the alway poor are staying ; 
For this is the story, for evermore 

The Master's voice is saying : 
Inasmuch as ye do it unto them. 

The poor, the weak, and the stranger, 
Ye do it to Jesus of Bethlehem — 

Dear Babe of the star-lit manger ! 



LAST MONTH. 

{Memorial Recitation.) 

Last month the sweet June roses bloomed ; 

I cannot find a flower to-day ; 
Their fragrance all the air perfumed ; 

They budded, bloomed, then — passed away. 

Last month our little brother walked 
In all the paths that now "we tread ; 

With us he sang, and learned, and talked , 
And now, oh, must we call him dead ? 

I do not know why God should make 
The flowers we love so quickly die ; 

I do not know why God should take 
That dear, sweet child so soon on high. 

But this I know : the year will bring 
The sweet June roses back once more. 

And this J know : the heavenly Spring 
Our dear, lost blossom shall restore. 

Oh, little schoolmates, will you try 

To love, like him, God's will and word, 

Until we find him, by-and-by, 
In the fair garden of the Lord ? 



OS THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

And will you, like that lovely one, 

Walk softly up the heavenly way? 
And learn to say — God's will be done, 

Both \vhen he gives, and takes away? 

[After this Recitation, sing the following Lymn. Find music in " Song 
Era," *• Triumph," "Joy," or "Linnet," published by Rodt & 
Sons, Chicago.] 

ALONG THE SILENT PATH.- 

{For our Little Schoohnate.) 

Along the silent path, 

By viewless spirits trod, 
Another little traveller hath 

Gone up to dwell with God. 

Gone up from human love 

To higher love and care ; 
From pain below to peace above, 

In mansions, O so fair ! 

Attune our hearts, O Lord, 

Though they with sorrow swell, 

To say this meek, submissive word, — 
Thou doest all things well ! 

Fit us, O Lord, to go. 

Or fit us here to stay, 
That we may walk with Thee below, 

Or up the silent way. 



FRENCH DAYS. 

[Divide the class; one half asks, the other answers, the questions.] 

First, Dimanclie. — What day is that, do you know ? 
Second. Dimanclie is Sunday, to church we go. 

First. Liincli. — Now w^hat is that, can you say ? 
Second, Lundi is Monday, our washing-day. 

First, Mardi. — What day is this, who knows ? 

Second. Mardi is Tuesday, to iron the clothes. 

First, Merer edi. — Oh, who can tell this one ? 

Second. Mercredi is Wednesday, the week's half done. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, G9 

First. Jeudi. — Now who has this name found ? 
Second, Jeudi is Thursday, alike in sound. 

First, Vendredi. — Who can this odd name tell ? 
Second. Vendredi^ Friday, I know it well. 

First, Samedi. — Say what is this funny name ? 
Second. Samedi and Saturday are the same. 

All, Listen now, teacher, while plain and well 

The names of the days in French we tell : 
Dimanclie, Sunday ; Lundij Monday, etc. 



PERSUASION. 

A STORY FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS. 

To market went Hichard and Harry, one day ; 
The morning was pleasant and smooth was the way ; 
Their donkeys, though laden, were cheery and gay. 
'' We shall get there in season," I heard the boys say. 
But donkeys are obstinate creatures, you know : 
If they choose to be brisk they will speedily go ; 
But then, if they choose to be stubborn and slow, 
Anybody will tell you they'll surely be so. 

" Come, Harry," said Richard, " I'm ready, you see ; 

But wait till 1 cut me a stick from the tree ; 

My donkey shall feel it ! — my donkey with me, 

The first at the market this morning shall be ! " 

So saying, he struck him a blow on the head. 

And bade him go on ; but the donkey, instead 

Fixed firmer his standing as though he hatl said, 

" I shall stay here all day, of your blows I've no dread.' 

Young Harry then drew from his basket so neat, 

And held forth, a sheaf of the tenderest wheat ; 

The donkey, in hope he should reach it and eat, 

Was soon out of sight, as they ran down the street. 

And Harry was full of his glee and his fun ; 

He held out the wheat till the journey was done ; 

He came to the market, the very first one. 

Ere his hamper of cowslips had drooped in the sun. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

And this is the lesson I musingly drew ; 

Oh. parents and teachers, I'll tell it to you, — 

Though simple and plain. I am sure it is true, 

And just as I tell you I hope you will do: 

Oh, heed then this lesson you see in my verse, — 

That scolding is evil, and driving is worse; 

And gentle i^er suasion is better than force. 

For children as well as for donkeys, — of course! 



TEMPTATION. 

One. Charming child, with, sunny face, 

Whither are you speeding ? 

Another. To my schoolroom, pleasant place 1 
All its duties heeding. 

One, Charming child, how sweet, how clear, 

Happy hirds are singing ! 

Another, Yes, I know it, hut I hear 

Happy school-bells ringing. 

One. Charming child, the day is long 

And the schoolroom dreary. 

Another, No; we cheer our hearts with song. 
So we're never weary. 

One, Charming child, go there no more, 

Stay for recreation. 
Another, Here's my happy schoolroom door, 

So, good-by, Temptation. 



CHOICE OF ZONES. 

First, Oh, where in the world would you choose to dwell ? 
Second, Listen a moment, and I will tell. 

Where vines and fruits of the tropics grow ; 

Where flowers of beauty and fragrance blow ; 

Where comes no dread of the snow and wind. 

My home in the Torrid Zone I'd find. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 71 

First. Where under the sun would be your choice ? 
Third. Where Northern Lights should my eye rejoice. 

Over the fields of ice and snow, 

Swift, in a reindeer sledge I'd go ; 

And watch blue icebergs floating down, 

'Xeath the midnight sun of the Frigid Zone. 

First. Now tell me, where would you like to live? 
Fourth. Oh, me a home in the fak land give, 

Where Summer, Autumn, W^inter, and Spring 

The ceaseless song of the seasons sing. 

Where seed-time and harvest go and come ; 

For the Temperate Zone shall be my home. 

First. One chooses the cold, and one the heat, 

And one the land where they blend and meet. 
The Laplander thinks his frozen zone 
The happiest land that the sun shines on, 
While a voice floats up from tropical bowers, 
" The happiest land in the world is ours ! " 

All. And is it not well ? The Lord hath made 

The world in its various zones arrayed. 
One girdles the earth with ice and snow, 
One decks with radiant WTeaths her brow. 
From North, and South, and East, and West, 
All homes of the earth cry, *' Ours is best! " 



ALPHABET GAME. 

[Let twenty-six very little ones stand in a row, each bokling in his 
right hand a card-board letter large enough to be plainly seen in all 
parts of the room.] 

(J./Z si7ig to the tune " Yankee Doodle.''^) 
We are very little things. 

Standing in our places ; 
And now we raise our names high up 

Above our little faces. 
Don't you wish that you could learn 

All these pretty letters ? 
Don't you wish that you could turn 

To little Alphahetters ? 



72 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

(Let a very small child in the audience say,) 
I think if I were you, 
I'd show what I could do. 

TJii^ee little ones step from the line and stand together. 
We three will show you that 
We spell c-a-^, cat. 

Three others eome out. 

Now you can see us speD 
W-e4l* well. 

Thxe others. We now, you see, begin 
To make d-i-n, din. 

Three others. We three will show, with joy, 
We spell h-o-y, boy. 

Three others. And now we show you, sir, 
We spell y-w-r, fur. 

First group {recites in concert, holding up the xcord). 
The cat says "raew'^ and catches reiiee 
My cat is kitty, and she is nice. 

Second group {Jiigh holding up the word). 

A boy is bi^^, can reach so high ! 
A boy will be a man by'n'by. 

Third group. Now we will tell you, ding, dong, bell, 
A boy put the cat down in the well ! 

Fourth group. It was a sad, dark place for her, — 

It bumped her nose, and wet her^wr. 

Fi/th group. She made a din, when she went in, 

Then good Jack Stout, he took her out. 

A, E. I, 0. U. {standing in line, say to the remainder). 
We are the little vowels ; if us you do not borrow 
You cannot spell a single word, though you stay there till 
to-morrow. 

* When a letter is doubled, the child holds a duplicate letter in his 
left hand. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 73 

K and S. Come over, I, — (/ comes,) — your face v.-e miss ; 
Come let us make k-i-ssj kiss. {Tliey all kiss.) 

V and X, Come E, join us two little specks, 

And help us spell v-e-x, vex. 

Q and Z, Come U and I, your place here is 

To show the people how to quiz. 
(They all stand in line, holding the letters up to 
their eyes like opera glasses.) 

H and P. Come over, O, and with us stop, 

And pretty soon we'll have a ho}?. 
{They join and hop aa^oss the stage.) 

J and M. Come A, run over where I am, 

And help me make a dish of jam. 
(They clasp arms closely.) 

G. Vm all alone, dear brother O ; 

Come over here and make me go. 

All. So now we've tried to show to you 

What little things like us can do. 
And if you come again some day, 
We'll try some longer words to say. 
And now we little Alphabetters 
Will sing you all our pretty letters. 

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, 
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P; 

Q, R, S, and T, U, V, 
W, and X, Y, Z. 

Now you've heard my a, b, c, 
Tell me what you think of me." 
(Sing in the familiar tune of '* Alphabet Song.'') 



WHERE TEN BOYS WANT TO LIVE. 

First. 
Up in a balloon, boys, could you gaily go, 
Sailing on o'er torrid plains, or frigid heights of snow. 
Over every earthly land beneath the sun and moon. 
Which one would you like the best when up in a balloon ? 



74 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Second, 
rd sail o'er South America, and up the Amazon ; 
And dwell where wondrous flowers and fruits, grow, tropic trees 
upon. 

Third. 
And I would go to Greenland, the icebergs crash to hear, 
And run on snow-shoes o'er the hills to chase the polar bear. 

Fourth, 
I w^ould descend o'er Italy, in mighty Rome to dwell, 
And see the homes of famous men whose deeds the poets tell. 

Fifth, 
Far up in stormy Labrador, would be my choice to go, 
And try the snow-huts, underground, among the Esquimaux. 

Sixth. 
Ha ! ha ! what curious countries some people seem to please ! 
I'd seek some sunny summer isle on purple southern seas. 

Seventh. 
Sure of your welcome you would be, the natives glad would 

greet you ; 
They'd love you so, each wild Fejee ! yes, well enough to 
eat you ! 

Eighth. 
In northern Norway don't you think it might be jolly fun 
To go and see the strange, long day beneath the midnight sun ? 

Ninth. 
Yes ; but I'd rather stop an hour in splendid London city ; 
To never see its famous Tower, — now that would be a pity. 

Tenth. 
Now, boys, I've listened to you all, and this is what I say : 
I would not change my home at all, — right here I want to stay. 

All. 
Oh, well, of course just so w^ould we, in real, honest truth. 
Our ow^n brave land the best must be for her aspiring youth. 
I'm sure we would not change our home, nor leave it very soon, 
For any place our eyes might see, though " up in a balloon." 
We'll shout *' Long live America ! land of the brave and free ! " 
Where wave its glorious Stars and Stripes, — that is the land 
for me ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 75 

LITTLE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS SONG. 

Tune: "A, B, C." 

Let us sound a happy chime 
For the blessed Christmas-time. 
May good-will on earth, and peace, 
Newly come and never cease. 
Let us sound, &c. 

Like the shepherds let us go. 
Seeking if these things be so ; 
Till we find the Christmas child, 
Jesus, gentle, meek, and mild. 
Like the shepherds, &c. 

Glory, sing to God again, 
Peace on earth, good-will to men ; 
Just as once the angels sang, 
When the Christmas chorus rang ! 
Glory, sing, (Sec. 



HE CARETH FOR US. 

{Recitation for Opening of School.) 

Teaclier. Read Matt. vi. 28, 29. 
School, All over the hill is 

The bloom of the lilies. 
Their glory and beauty I see. 
For them he is caring, 
His love they are sharing ; 
How much more he careth for me ! 

Teacher. Read Matt. vi. 30. 
School. In sunshine or shadow 

The beautiful meadow 
All clothed with the grasses shall be. 
He cares for their growing, 
Each tender blade knowing, 
How much more he careth for me ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Teacher, Eead Matt. x. 29, 31. 
School, The sparrows are winging, 

And joyfully singing ; 
If, down from its nest in the tree. 
One sparrow is falling, 
He cares for its calling ; 
How much more he careth for me ! 

Teacher, Head Ps. cxiv. 9, 10. 
School. The birds and the flowers, 

How humble their powers ; 
If such little things loveth he, 
His dear praises singing, 
My song shall be ringing ; 
How^ much more he careth for me ! 



NEUF HEURES MOIXS CIXQ MINUTES. 

[Five Minutes of Xine.] 

Child, II est neuf heures, ma chere maman, 
Mes livres, je ne puis pas troiiver. 
It's nine o'clock, my mamma dear, 
I cannot find my books, I say. 

Oil est mon chapeau, chere maman ? 

Where is my hat, my mamma dear? 
I know that when I'm a Vccole^ 

At school, *' Vous etes tard^' I shall hear. 

Oh sont mes crayons, chere maman') 
My pencils — oh, where can they be? 
Mother, They're on the table, sur la table. 
Child, But some one hid them to plague me. 

Mother. Ma chere petite, my darling child, 
I've often said,yai soiroent c.:t^ 
Put everything in its own place. 
And you can find it, then, you see. 

Child, Vm ready, mnmma,ye sitis prete, 
I will remember what you say. 
Now, mamma, emhrasse moi, kiss me, 
And a Vecole I'll run away. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 77 

NATIONAL FLOWERS. 

{Christmas Masque.) 

[Charactees. — Abbot of Misnile, Rose of York. Rose of Lancas- 
' ter. Rose of York and Lancaster. TJiistle. Shamrock. Flower 
DeLuce. 

COSTUITES. — Abbot of Misrule in comical antique dress. Rose of 
York, white ; Rose of Lancaster ^ red : Rose of York and Lancas- 
ter, red and white. The young girls wear white dresses. The 
Roses have red sashes. The Thistle of bright plaid. The Sham- 
rock of gi-een; and the Flower DeLnce of red, white, and blue. 
Each young lady's head and face are concealed by a very large blos- 
som of the flower she represents ; a thin, green tissue drawn tightly 
over the face and tied around the neck, forms the calyx. Above 
this the petals are made of tissue paper over wire bent in the proper 
shape. The flowers are all familiar, and can easily be made with a 
little ingenuity, care, and taste. Have gi-een leaves of the proper 
kind, made with tissue paper and wii'e. In short, make and fasten 
upon the head an enormous flower and leaves of the kind repre- 
sented.] 

Abbot of Misrule. 

In olden Christmas times they played 
Many a comic masquerade. 
Strange figures showed, who, for their head, 
AVore deer's, or hare's, or goat's instead. 
Quaint, but more pleasing masques have we : 
Upon our stage you now shall see 
England's famed Roses, one, two, three. 

Rose of York (enters from R.). 

I bear upon my leafy stalk 

The pure and fair white Rose of York. 

Rose of Lancaster {enters from L.). 

To my red blossom turn your eye, 
The Rose of Lancaster am I. 

[hhot of Misrule {standing between them). 

Long were the red and white rose worn ; 
And long on rival banners borne, 
By hostile armies rent and torn. 

{Joins their hands.) 



78 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Till York and Lancaster unite, 

And jDeaceful blend the Red and White. 

i?05e of York and Lancaster (enters from R., comes between T. 
and L., taking a hand of each),' 
Then England welcomed me to her ; 
The Rose of York and Lancaster. 

Abbot of Misrule, 

You see old England's lovely Roses ; 
And now, before our pageant closes, 
L'eland and Scotland show to you 
The Thistle and the Shamrock too. 

Ihistle {enters R.). 

Where the north winds blow 

And the east winds whistle, 
On the hills I grow ; 

Tm the brave Scotch Thistle. 

Shamrock {enters L.). 

You'll find me L'eland's green isle over, 
The Shamrock is the sweet white clover ; 
And L'eland is the Shamrock's lover. 

(Shamrock and Thistle stand on either side of the Rose 
group.) 

Flower DeLuce {enters l.). 

You'll name my glory at a glance, 

For which brave knights have borne their lance ; 

The purple Flower l)eLuce of France. 

(Flower DeLuce stands in centre ; Shamrock and 
Thistle take each a hand.) 

Abbot of Misrule. 

These lovely blossoms, hand in hand, 
Show how the friendly nations stand. 
May Christmas joys ne'er with them cease ; 
Their Rulers serve the Prince of Peace ; 
While each new Christmas brings again 
Its peace on earth, good-will to men ! 

{The six young girls representing the Flowei's now form for the 
Old-fashioned Virginia Heel, dance the set through, and the 
Curtain Falls.) 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

PLAYING CARPENTER.* 

Motion Soxg. 



' Eap with finger-ends on desk. 

- Clap once. 

^ Rii^ht hand toward the riorht. 



* Left hand to the left 

o Both hands waive up and down. 

6 Fold hands. 



^ Rap ! * rap ! ^ rap ! how the shingles ^ clap ! 
^ Here a beam, and '^ there a timber, 

* Then a ° board, so ^ long and ^ limber ; 

How the laths shall ^ snap ! how the hammers ^ rap ! 

^ Nail, boys, ' nail ! never mind the ^ gale ! 

^ Sunny days or windy ^ weather, 

^ Cheerful ° labor all ° together ; 
Soon our house we'll ^nail ! briskly ^ nail, ^ boys, * naii ! 

^ Rest now, rest ; what a cosy nest ! 

^ All well done from floor to gable, 

* Mimic shelf and kitchen table ; 

' Now sit down and rest ; all have done their best. 



ADVICE FROM EPVE, TEN, AND TWELVE. 

Five, You say, " Me tell you what to do " ? 
Such a wee child as I ? 
All that your mamma wants you to, 
And never fret and cry. 

'Tis pretty hard, as I can tell ; 

But then, if you obey. 
Your mamma '11 say : " Dear, you've done well," 

And love you every day. 

Ten, Shall I now tell you what I've found 
By hving ten years long ? 
That quarrels very badly sound — 
Not half so sweet as song. 



* From ** The Robin," published by Root & Sons, Chicago. 



80 ~ THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

That tempers ought to be controlled ; 

Does any one of you, 
No matter if you're very old, 

Find this fact to be true ? 

Ticelve. I hear by day, I hear by night, 
Mamma and teacher say : 
" Be good, my child, in all things right. 
And thorough be, alway." 

These words oft on my ear do fall, 
And these words I must tell : 

*' Whatever should be done at all 
Is worth the doing well." 



SPRING WORK. 

Motion Song. Tune: "Lightly Eow.' 



1 Stand ; reach out both hands. 

2 Let them fall as on the plow- 

handles, bending forward. 

3 Throw them out straight before 

4 Stand very straight. 
6 Turn around. 

^ Move the right hand as in sow- 
ino^ seed. 



7 Drop the ends of the fingers 

briskly on the desk. 

8 Wave both hands out. 

^ Eaise both hands slowly. 
i» Be seated. 
11 Fold hands. 
1- Seat-mates turn face to face. 



^ Plough the land, ^ plough the land ; 
Hold the handles with each hand; 

Furrows keep straight and deep,' 
^ Firm and steady stand. 
^ Quickly turn around we may, 
' Ploughing back the other way ; 

Plough the land, plough the land — 
^ Farmers understand. 

^ Sow the seed, sow the seed, 
' Little birds will come and feed ; 
^ Never mind, you will find 
Much they leave behind. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 81 

^ Soon the tender blades will spring, 
Just as green as anything ; 
^ Sow the seed, sow the seed, 
* I'leasant work indeed. 

^° Now we rest, now we rest, 
" After labor that is best ; 

First you know, green will show 
^ Where the grain we sow. 
^ Soon you'll see a welcome sight, 
Field so pretty, green, and bright. 
^' Spring-time through, glad are you 
'^''•' Farmer's work to do ? 



HISTORIC PERSONAGES. 

[Characters. — Little Children in appropriate historic costume; 
Queeii Elizabeth, Martha Washington, Josephine, Maid of Honor, 
Washington, Napoleon, Sir Walter Raleigh,'] 

Maid of Honor {introducing Elizabeth). 

I LEAD before you a lady grand, 

Who long ago ruled a distant land ; 

On her head is a crown, with golden sheen, 

They sometimes called her the Maiden Queen. 

By her stiff, white ruff you will surely guess 

That the Maiden Queen is 

{Several voices in the audience.) 

Good Queen Bess ! 

Maid of Honor leads in Raleigh. 
Queen Elizabeth {receiving him). 

And now I call for my trusty knight, 

This noble squire, with his sword so bright ; 

A cloak of velvet he wears, you see, — 

Behold him as once he honored me, — 

As he spreads it down where my foot shall fall, he 

Will surely be known as 

{Several voices.) 

Sir Walter Raleigh ! 



82 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Maid of Honor leads in Napoleon. 
^ir Walter {receiving Mm), 

And I call over the ocean for 

A great and powerful emperor: 

All Europe be sought by his sword to subdue, 

Till he met his defeat at Waterloo. 

I think you must know that you look upon 

The emperor, great 

{Several voices^ 

Napoleon ! 

Maid of Honor leads in Josephine. 

Napoleon {receiving lier). 

She enters now whom at first I loved, 

And at last from my home and heart removed. 

The fairest, and dearest, and wisest one 

Who graced the court of Napoleon ; 

You will know by her calm and gracious mien 

That she is 

{Several voices.) 

The Empress Josephine ! 

Maid of Honor leads in Washington. 

Josepliine {receiving Mm), 

And now I take by his honored hand 
The best beloved of your native land, — 
The " First in war and in peace,'' and then 
The *' First in the hearts of his countrymen.^ 
You now mus^t know that you look upon 

The great and the good 

{Several voices^ 

George Washington \ 

Maid of Honor leads in Martha Washington. 

WasMngton {receiving her). 

Come, now, Mount Vernon's mistress fair, 
With gracious manner and kindly air ; 
The people know, by the sunny grace 
That shines in her gentle matron-face, 
She is theirs and my beloved one, 

The beautiful 

{Several voices.) 

Martha Washington ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 83 

Martlia Wasldngton, 

Oh, dearest, proudest, grandest place, 
He, noblest of his time and race. 
Accords so lovingly to me ! 
The Father of his Country, he ; 
Then, children of his dear, free land, 
As brave, as true, as loyal stand. 
Each daughter fair, each worthy son, 
As is our own George Washington. 

Maid of Honor. 

Now see America, England, France, 
Join friendly hands for a royal dance. 

{Dancing off tlie stage.) 
I go before them to lead the way. 
And only wait till you all shall say, 
As swift their feet and the moments fly, 
To one and all, a kind good-by, 
{Several voices.) 

Good-by I 



AUTUMN EXAMINATION. 

{Recitation.) 

When Spring came, breathing o'er the land, 

Came, calling buds and blossoms sweet, 
Our friends, a kindly welcomed band. 

We sang our sweetest songs to greet. 
With words of hope and accents kind, 

They strove to cheer us on that day. 
Those words, like seed within the mind, 

Sprang up ere Spring had passed away. 

The Summer came, and in the woods, 

In lovely dells, on hill-sides green, 
The springing plants, the swelling buds, 

The perfect blossoms we have seen. 
AVithin our minds, those seedlings fair, — 

How grew they through each Summer day ! 
What buds of promise, blossoms rare. 

Bore they, ere Summer passed away 1 



84 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

The Autumn came, the golden grain, 

That gilded all the hill-sides o'er, — 
The fruits of every glowing plain, 

Were garnered in for Winter's store. 
What wealth of knowledge we have gained 

Our humble voices will not say ; 
We lay our sheaves before you now, — 

Sheaves bound ere Autumn passed away. 



WHEN FATHER COMES. 

Sometimes, when father comes, my mother says to me, 

*' Father is very tired to-night ; don't climb upon his knee.'' 

Then father spreads his arms as wide as they can go. 
And takes me up and blesses me, because he loves me so. 

I think that's just the way, and just the reason why 
That Jesus used these words to say of children such as I : 

" Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid tb^m not, 
For of such is the kingdom of heaven." 



LIVE THOU AGAIN, OUR WASHINGTON. 

{Recitation and Response, For one Boy and several Girls.) 

Boy, Our Country's honored Father, 
As in thy name we gather, 
Oh, may thy worthy spirit 
Thy children now inherit ! 

Oirls. In every true and loyal son. 

Live thou again, our Washington ! 

Boy. Thou who from tyrants freed us, 
Again inspire and lead us ; 
Nor let thy wisdom fail us. 
Though foes within assail us. 

Girls. In every true and loyal son. 

Live thou again, our Washington ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 85 

Boy. As thy great life's laudation 
Ascends o'er all the nation, 
Our fiUal spirits reaching, 
Renew that life's pure teaching. 

Girls, In every true and loyal son. 

Live thou again, our Washington ! 

Boy, Till, like thy name's fair whiteness, 
In noble, pure uprightness, 
All they who now rule o'er us 
May shine like thee, before us. 

Girls, In every true and loyal son, 

Live thou again, our Washington ! 



ACTING CHARADE. 

MISTAKE. 

[To be acted by a class of four little girls, with one older boy as 
Director^ and another as Teacher.l 

Director. Our Charade is a word in two syllables. It is a 
thing you all sometimes make. We will now give the 

First Syllable. 

[The Teacher rings a call-bell ; the class comes forward. They should 
walk tiptoe, clasp hands behind them, and caricature class behavior 
in every comical wa3^] 

Teacher. AVhere 's Boston ? tell me if you can. 

Your hand is raised ; speak, Mary Ann. 

Mary Ann. Is it on Casco Bay, or perhaps Chesapeake ? 

I almost just know, but the name cannot speak. 

Teacher (angrily). Mary Ann ! what a lesson is this ! 
Careless Miss ! thus to answer amiss ! 
{To Class.) Whose hand up, the next shall I see ? 
What is Boston.'^ Sophia, tell me. 

Sophia. 1 will try not to miss, sir, again. 

Is it capital city of — Maine ? 



86 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



Teacher {angrily). Sophia ! what a lesson is this ! 
Careless Miss ! thus to answer amiss ! 
( To Class.) Some facts in geometry state. 
What ^s a line and an angle ? Miss Kate. 

Kate, Fishing for trout, in a brook, is an angle. 

A line is the cord you must try not to tangle. 

Teacher, Katie, Kate ! what a lesson is this ! 
Careless Miss ! thus to answer amiss ! 
{To Class.) Will no one a good scholar prove ? 
Lucy Jane, can you conjugate love ? 

Lucy Jane, Vm so bashful, I fear I shall miss it. 

First person — you love — but who is it ? 

Teacher, Lucy Jane ! what a lesson is this ! 

Careless Miss ! thus to answer amiss ! 

{To Class.) Spell stonily and define it, together. 

Class. S-t-a-w-m — bad spell of weather. 

Teacher. You have not recited correctly, — not once. 

Every Miss has missed, and appeared like a dunce. 

Director, We will now act the 



Teacher, 

Director. 

Teacher. 
Director, 

[Teacher 

Class. 

Director, 



Second Syllable. 

This lesson again you must take. 
Take care, and take pains, for my sake. 

Better scholars of them would you make, 
Something else I am sure they should take. 

They deserve that my rod I should break ; 
On my own hand their blows I will take. 

The Whole Wokd. 

strikes his hand with the rod, while the class begin to ciy, 
saying — ] 

Oh, don't, teacher, don't suffer pa-in for our sake. 
We are sorry for every silly mistake. 

Now, friends, as you saw each mistake that they 

made, 
If I do not mistake you have guessed our Charade. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 87 

SMITH AND JONES. 

A TEMPERANCE LESSON. 

They say Jones is the richest man 

In all the town, and he 
Drives by us with his handsome span, 

As jolly as can be. 

Old Smith was jolly once, they say. 

And rich \ but see him there, 
Without a cent to pay his rent, — 

No money anywhere. 

Smith bought the whiskey that Jones sold, 

A little, and then more : 
So, by-and-by, Jones had Smith's lands, 

And Smith was very poor. 

This is the story of the two, 

This lesson here you see : 
Don't buy the whiskey that Jones sells. 

Or poor, like Smith, you'll be. 



''BIRDS CANNOT COUNT." 

A LESSON FOE EGG-COLLECTORS. 

First Boy. 

Six ep:gs there were, in the nest of the bird, 

Under four brown wings' protection. 
**Now, * birds cannot count,'" said John, " I've heard." 
And so, without saying another word, 

He took one for his collection. 

Second Boy, 

Five eggs there were in the sheltered nest, 

Karl knew from John's direction. 
" As ^ birds cannot count,' " said Karl, ** 'tis best 
To take one of these to go with the rest 

Of the kinds in my collection," 



88 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Third Boy. 

Four eggs there were in the nest on the tree. 

Said l)ick : " Upon reflection, 
As * birds cannot count,' I think it will be 
No harm to them, and just right for me, 

To take one for my collection." 

FourtTi Boy. 

Three eggs there were in that harassed nest ; — 

And 1 don't know what connection 
There was to the thoughts in the poor birds' breast 
If birds cannot count, — but they left the rest, 

For anybody's collection. 

All, Oh, egg-collectors, don't you suppose 

You might have some slight objection, 
Though you should forget how to count, if those 
Who look at your treasures, should, as they chose, 
Each take one from your collection ? 



FORTUNE-TELLING. 

{A Recitation for Daisy -time. For three Girls, with Daisies.) 

May. Down in the daisy field, under the shade. 

May, Carrie, and Kate, daisy-fortunes played. 
Singing, while dropping each floret leaf, 
" Bich man, poor man, heggar-man, thief, 
Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief t^'^* 
This is the way May, Kate, and Carrie 
Learn of the daisies Avhom they shall marry. 

Carrie. "And what shall we have for our bridal-dress? 
Daisy white, daisy true, can you guess?" 
Drawing and counting each milk-white ray, 
To see what the last one has to say : 
" Silks, satins, calico, 7'ags,*' * sing they. 
This is the way May, Carrie, and Kate 
Learn how they shall dress in their bridal state. 

Kate. " On our wedding tour, in what shall we go ? 
Tell us, daisy, we long to know ! " 

* Kepeat slowly, till each daisy-ray is drawn out. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 89 

So they pull the florets again apart 

To see if the bridal train shall start 

In " coacliy chaise, ivheelbaiToio, cavty * 

This is the way Kate, Carrie, and May 

Learn how they shall ride on their wedding-day. 

May, " Now one word more must the daisies give : 
Tell us truly how we shall live." 
One by one are the dwellings said. 
As they draw the rays from the golden head : 
*' Great house, pottage, icood-house, shedJ' * 
This is the way the daisies tell 
How the brides, Kate, Carrie, and May, shall dwell. 

All. And for fortune-telling, no living man 

Can tell one bit better than daisies can ! 



KINDERGARTEN BIRD-CLASS. 

{One Little Girl asks the questions ; the Class or School gives 
the answers. They should be taught to imitate the various 
bird-notes correctly and musically.) 

Q. Tell me how Chris-cradle sings. 

Birdie sweet, with bright, brown wings, 

A. Sing her song, all sing with me ; 
Chris, chris, cradle, — Saint Marie. 

Q. What is the WhippoorwilFs sad song, 
Heard in summer, all night long ? 

A, My poor wife has gone to mill ! 
Whip poor will ! whip poor will ! 

Q. Sing me the notes the Whistling Quail 
Sounds o'er meadow, hill, and vale. 

A. Robert White ! 'twill rain to-night ! 

More wet, more wet. Bob White ! Bob White ! 



* Kepeat slowly, till each daisy-ray is drawn out. 



90 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Q, What does Robin-redbreast say, 
Waking up at dawn of day ? 

A. Cheer up ! cheer up ! cheer ! cheer ! cheer ! 
E-ipe, ripe cherries ! quick ! quick ! here ! 

Q. What does the saucy Kill-deer cry, 
Chasing the hawk across the sky ? 

A. He drives the hawk as he flies in fear, 

And he sings, Kill-deer ! kill-deer ! kill-deer ! 

Q. What is the brave Httle Snowbird's sound, 
When snow lies deep on the frozen ground? 

A. Xaufjht for the cold and wind cares he : 
Chick-a-chick-a-dee-dee, dee, dee, dee ! 

Q. What do the Httle birds do at night. 

When the sun in the west sinks out of sight? 

A. Heads under their wings they go to sleep, 

And the last they say is. Peep — peep — peep ! 

{All put the right arm up over the eyes, and say the ^^ peep, 
peep,'' slowly and sleepily.) 



AUGUST. 

{Recitation for a Little Girl persoTiating AuGFST.) 

I COME ! I come ! and the waving field 
Its wealth of golden grain shall yield. 
In the hush and heat of glowing noon, 
The insects' hum is the only tune ; 
For the merriest birds forget to sing, 
And sit in the shade with drooping wing. 

But see ! how the purpling grapes hang high, 
And ripen beneath my sunny sky ! 
And see ! how the fruits of the bending tree 
Turn blushing and rosy cheeks to me ! 
And soon shall your garners be over-full 
With gifts from the August bountiful. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 91 

WHEN DO YOU SING? 

{For very Little Ones.) 

Boy, Little bird, so gayly winging, 

Say, when is your hour of singing? 

Girl, AVhen the sun smiles up the heaven, 

Till he calmly sinks at even. 

Bee. B, Little brook, with music ringing, 

Say, when is your hour of singing ? 

Bee. G. When the waves at sunrise glisten, 
Till the stars look down and listen. 

First B, Little hearts, with gladness springing, 
Say, when is your hour of singing ? 

All, From life's morn, when song is given, 

Till we sinn; our sonsrs in heaven. 



BIRD SONGS. 

{^For June.) 

When the rosy light of day 

O'er the hillside flushes. 
Then begins the roundelay 

Of the happy Thrushes. 
Soon as misty shades of night 

From the valleys clear up, 
Robin sings with all his might, 

Cheer up ! cheer up ! cheer up ! 

Chris-chris-cradle's silver song 

Rings among the sedges ; 
Chipping Sparrows cheep; along 

All the dewy hedges. 
Phebe, by the tinkling rills. 

Sings with Wrens and Swallows ; 
Merry Bob-o'-Lincoln trills 

O'er the grassy hollows. 



92 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



Mellow lays, so clear and rare, 

Sweet Chevvink is ringing. 
From his castle in the air 

Oriole is singing. 
Down the hill the Cuckoo calls, 

And the E-ingdove's cooing, 
Soft as summer zephyr falls. 

In its notes of wooing. 

From the wood the Quail is heard 

Prating of the weather ; 
While the gleeful Mockingbird 

Sings all songs together. 
Lovely songsters of the air, 

Sound your notes of gladness, 
Drive away our thoughts of care. 

Sing away our sadness. 



WE'LL TRY. 

{Autumn Recitation.) 

Little Girl, When Spring came, calling to the Flowers, 

" Come forth, there's work to do ! 
The blossoming for Summer hours. 

And Autumn's ripening, too ; " 
Did any little tender plant 

Shrink down beneath the soil ? 
Did any floweret sigh, '• I can't ! " 

When called to Summer toil ? 

Several. Ah, no ! They said : *' AVe'll try, we'll try, 

We'll see what we can do ; 
We'll bud and bloom, nor ever sigh 
The livelong Spring-time through ! " 



Little Girl. In Spring-time, when before us lay 
The work for Summer hours. 
There came, to cheer us on our way, 
As sunshine cheers, the Flowers, 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



93 



Several, 



A kindly and a welcome band 

Of friends and parents dear ; 
Oh, could we shrink from pleasant work 

When these were smiling near ? 

Ah, no ! We said : " We'll try, we'll try, 

We'll see what we can do ; 
We'll patient toil, nor ever sigh. 

The livelong Summer through ! " 



Little Girl, The Flowers that budded in the Spring 

Have blossomed in the sun. 
And Autumn's garnered Sheaves may sing, 

" The season's work is done ! " — 
Kind friends, our season, too, is done, 

Our Summer's w^ork is o'er ; 
We would that, for each sheaf we've won, 

We had a hundred more ! 

Several. Cheered by your love, we'll try, we'll try, 

To see what we can do. 
Begin anew, and never sigh, 
Autumn nor Winter throu";h. 



AT THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. 

Some love the oak-tree, stout and tall ; 

The willow, bending long ; 
The elm, whose branches graceful fall ; 

The pine, with sweet, sad song ; 
The cherry-tree, Avhose petals white 

Fall soft in summer snow ; 
The apple-tree, with blossoms bright, 

And fruit of golden glow. 



But this strange tree, our favorite 
Through one glad hour shall be ; 

For love's dear blossoms cover it — 
It is our Christmas-Tree ! 



94 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Around it as we stand to-night, 

"We joyfully declare, 
Some lovely fruit, or blossom bright, 

For each its boughs shall bear. 

His rain and sun our Father lends 

To deck the forest trees ; 
His love in human hearts he sends 

To bring such bloom as these. 
So while we thank the hands of love 

That Christmas gifts bestow, 
We'll |3raise the tender Heart above, 

Whence all our blessings flow. 



ALL THE SEASONS. 

{For four Speakers.) 

First. Spring-time is coming ! search for the May-flowers ! 
Brush off the brown leaves, the darlings are here ! 
Joy of the Spring hours, picking the May-flowers ! 
Kiss the Spring beauties, the babes of the year ! 
Second, 

Summer is coming ! gather the clovers ; 

Here are the blossoms, all crimson and white. 
All round we find them ! pick them and bind them ; 
Place on our foreheads the garlands so bright. 

Tliird. 

Autumn is coming ! high hang the apples ; 

Reach to the branches, so rosy and fair. 
Give them a shaking, ripest fruit taking ; 

Here is a plenty, with you we will share. 
Fourtli, 

Winter is coming ! snow-flakes are flying ; 

See how they gather all over the ground ! 
Thickly the snow falls, make up the snowballs. 

Keep them a-tossing around and around. 

All. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter are flying ; 
Each has a beauty unlike all the rest. 
This is the reason why every season 

Always, in passing, seems gayest and best. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 95 

MOX JAEDIN: MY GARDEN. 

(Recitation for Juvenile French Scholars.) 

Le Printevips, Spring, no more is here ; 

And I, ma chere mere, mother dear, 

My garden, mon jardin, enjoy ; 

The flowers, les fieurs, my time employ. 

I'll have, now Summer comes, — lEtCi — 

Les roses, the roses, every day ; 

Daisies I'll have, — les marguerites, — 

And violets, les violettes, so sweet. 

And heliotrope, in French the same ; 

With helianthe, the grander name 

For smiflower ; and these yellow-heads 

Shall nod above my garden-beds. 

To keep moil jar din, I will take 

My hoe, my shovel, and my rake, 

Ma hone, 7na pelle, et mon 7'dleau ; 

And good results my work shall show. 

No herhes sauvages (those words mean weeds) 

Shall check the growth of my flower-seeds ; 

La pluie, the rain, my plants shall shower ; 

The sun, le soleil, kiss each flower; 

La rosee — that's the gentle dew — 

Refresh them when the day is through ; 

And so mon jardin every day 

Shall with les fieurs my care repay. 



CHACUN A SON GOUT: TASTES DIFFER. 

1 The monkeys. I ^ xhe rabbits. 

2 A walrus. | * The Guinea pigs. 
Eddie. 

I WENT out with father, a few days ago, 

When all my examples were done ; 
And I saw le lion and le tigre at a show ; 
Jjes singes,^ V elephant, and le rhinoceros ; 
Un cheval marin ; ^ and I'm sure I don't know 

How a fellow could have greater fun. 



96 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Emma, 

I went, too. And, Eddie, it is a surprise 

That you could like monkeys as well 
As un perrcquef, who talked very wise 
(That means parrot) ; les lapins;^ with little pink eyes, 
And les coclions d'lnde,^ of very small size, 
Un paon (peacock), and gazelle, 

Eddie. ^ 

I like what I like ; and the same, Em, with you 
We will not dispute : for chacun a son gout 
Is a proverb, which means, '* every one as he pleases," 
As long as with Jiis likes he no one else teases. 



THE TEMPERANCE SHEEP.* 

Say, young folks, -will you hear my story ? 

It was truly told to me : 
The temperance scheme of John, the farmer, 

In the land of Genesee : 
He told his boys, one fine Spring morning. 

If they all the j^ledge would keep. 
He'd give each one, to help him remember, 

Such a likely year-old sheep ! 

C/wrus, — The boys all said, " Oh, yes ! " and John the 
farmer cried, 
" Oh ho ! I've temperance sheep a plenty ; 
every one shall be supplied." 

Now I must own that John, the farmer. 

Was a trifle apt to take 
A " wee bit drap " from his decanter, 

Only for " the stomach's sake." 
But temperance pledge, a cure for folly. 

All the young, he said, should keep ; 
And so he felt — oh ! " uncommon jolly," 

As he gave away his sheep ! 

Cliorus. — The boys all said, &c. 
* From "Musical Fountain," published by Koot & Sons, Chicago. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



97 



Well pleased, I ween, was John, the farmer, 

Until Jack, a sly young elf, 
Said, *' Say, now, father, wouldn't you better 

Take a year-old sheep yourself ^^^ 
Down fell the eyes of John, the farmer, 

And he kept them down until 
He signed the pledge that lav on the table, 

As he said, " My" boys, I will ! " 

Chorus, — The boys all cried, &c. 



WINTRY STORMS. 
Motion Song. 



1 Let the raised hands gently 

fall, with waring motion. 

2 Fold hands. [motion. 
* Raised hands fall with quick 



* Raised hands wave right and 

left. 
5 Raised hands fall with quick 

motion, right and left. 



This is the wav the snow comes down, 

^ Softly, softly falling. 
So He giveth the snow-like wool, 
2 Fair and white and beautiful. 
This is the way the snow comes down, 

' Softly, softly falling. 

This is the way the rain comes down,* 

Swiftly, swiftly falling. 
So He sendeth the welcome rain * 
Over field and hill and plain. 
This is the way the rain comes down,' 

Swiftly, swiftly filling. 



This is the way the frost comes down,* 

Widely, widely falHng. 
So it spreadeth, all through the night, 
Shining cold and pure and white. ^ 
This is the way the frost comes down,* 

Widely, widely falUng. 



98 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



This is the way the hail comes down,^ 

Loudly, loudly falling ; 
So it flieth beneath the cloud,* 
Swift and strong, and wild and loud. 
This is the way the hail comes down,* 

Loudly, loudly falling. 

Wonderful, Lord, are all thy works,* 

Wheresoever falling ; 
All their various voices raise, 
Speaking forth their Maker's praise. 
Wonderful, Lord, are all thy works. 

Wheresoever fallinor. 



INDEPENDENCE DAY.* 

{'Recitation and Song.) 

Recitaiion. The year is full of days that mark 

Our Country's growing fame, 
Since, sailing o'er the waters dark. 

Our fathers hither came. 
O'er fields of peace or fields of war. 

We look away, away. 
And gaze through gathering years, afar, 

On Freedom's natal day. 

Song, Ring a merrj^ peal of bells, 

While the roar of cannon swells ; 
Fling the banners to the morning breeze, 

Float the streamers o'er the land and seas ; 
Spread the Red, and White, and Blue, 

All the happy nation through. 
Shouting, with a voice of glee, boys, 

A song for Independence Day. 

Becitation, Our Country's annals gleam and burn, 
That tell her storied age. 
To-day, with loving hand we turn 
Her noblest, early page. 

* This song, with the music, may be found in the *' Golden Eobin," 
published by Oliver Ditson, Boston. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



99 



Xo day in all our nation's life 
So grand as this shall be ; 

When, facing death, and pain, and strife, 
They wrote : '' All men are free ! " 

Song, I^ing a merry peal of bells, &c. 

Becitation. And though, with grand, heroic names, 

Our hearts are full to-day. 
Not one a higher tribute claims 

Than those who led the way. 
We honor that devoted band 

Of tried and truest worth ; 
Charles Carroll, of the Southern land, 

John Hancock, of the North. 

Song, I^ing a merry peal of bells, <S:c. 

Becitation. Bring garlands of the fairest flowers 5 

Wreathe high the arches green. 
Let gladness fill the flying hours, 

And glory gild the scene. 
Let all the air resound with mirth, 

And songs of happy cheer ; 
And crown the nation's day of birth, 

The best of all the year. 

Song, Ring a merry peal of bells, &:c. 



MARCH. 

{A Marching Recitation.) 

The stormy March has come again, - 

March ! March ! March ! 
And rattling down the window pane, - 

March ! March ! March ! 
Come rushing torrents of the rain, — 

March ! 'March ! Mkrch ! 
But o'er my head my hat I swing, 
And shout hurrah ! like anything ! 
Because it is the first of Spring, — 

March ! March ! March ! 



100 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

MISTS. 

Motion Song. 



1 Hands slowly rise. 

2 Hands and finp^crs shake. 
^ Hands slowly fall. 

* Fini^ers patter on the desk. 
5 Hands move slowly to and 
fro. 



6 Bend the head till lips touch 

the desk. 

7 Hands on desk. 

8 Raise right hand. 
^ liaise left hand. 
1"^ Clasp hands. 



This is the way the mist goes up,* 
From grass and leaf, and violet cup,* 
And softly, gently, rising high,^ 
Goes hurrying o'er the hright blue sky.^ 

Mist,^ mist,^ beautiful mist ! ^ 
This is the way the mist goes up,^ 
From grass and leaf, and violet cup.* 

This is the way it whirls around,^ 
And turns to drops that fall to the ground ; ^ 
And this is the way the rushing rain'* 
Comes pattering on the flowers again.* 

Rain, rain, beautiful rain ! * 
This is the way it whirls around,^ 
And turns to drops that fall to the ground.^ 

This is the way the streams and rills ' 
Go speeding on o'er meadows and hills ; ^ 
And this is the way, by flowery brink,^ 
We merrily stoop, and gaily drink. ^ 

Stream, stream, beautiful stream ! ^ 
This is the way the streams and rills * 
Go speeding on o'er meadows and hills.^ 

This is the way w^e raise our hand,^ 
And pledge ourselves a temperance band.® 
While showers come down,"* and rivers run,^ 
Intemperance we will surely shun ! 

Pledge, pledge, beautiful pledge ! ^° 
This is the way we raise our hand. 
And pledge ourselves a temperance band.^ 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 101 

THE PASSING SEASONS.* 

{A Cantatina.) 

[Select eighteen children to personate and sing the first eighteen 
verses, as follows : — Old Year, 1st verse ; Neio Year^ 2d verse ; 
Spring, 3d; Marchf 4:th; April, 5th; May, 6th; Summer, 7th; 
Ju7ie,Sth.; Jidy^ 9th; August, 10th; Autu7nn, 11th; September, 
12th; October, 13th; November, Mth; Winter, loth.', December, 
16th ; January, 17th ; February, 18th. All sing the 19th and 20th 
verses, and also the part marked by the months composing the dif- 
ferent seasons, which comes after 4th, 8th, 12tli, 16th, and 20th verses. 

As a school exercise this may be sung by having the eighteen chil- 
dren, in turn, rise in their places, and sing their verses, the school 
remaining seated until the 19th verse, then all rise to end with. To 
give it more elaborately, all but the eighteen could be seated back 
on a stage (or, as the piece is not very long, they could stand, if 
there is not room for seats). 

There should be a raised seat for a throne in the centre, with Old Year 
in it at the beginning — the other seventeen being out of sight. 
But they come on, one by one, promptly, in their turn, so that as 
quick as one is through the next begins. 

Old Year, New Year, and Winter should be boys, but the other fifteen 
should be girls. Old Year hands his sceptre to New Year as he 
leaves the throne. Nezo Year remains on the throne during the 
piece. Old Year should pass out of sight after leaving the throne, 
but may return to the chorus after divesting himself of his aged 
appearance (if he is in costume) . 

After each solo (which should be sung well in front) , let the singer 
pass to such a position that at the end Spring and Summer and their 
months will be on one side of the throne, and Aututnn and Winter 
with their months on the other. They may be a little in front of 
the throne, and two deep, if there is not room for a single line. 

The stage maybe decorated with evergreens and flowers, but the piece 
is so short that it would not be worth the while to do much in this 
way. So with costumes. Floioers, grasses, wreaths (green or 
autumn leaves, according to season), holly berries, baskets of fruit, 
&c., may be used by the singers according to their part, on their 
dresses, or in their hands. 

* From George F. Root's *^ First Years in Song Land," by permis- 
sion of the publishers, John Church & Co., Cincinnati. It call be used 
as a recitation, but will be far better with the music. 



102 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

Old Year might have a long' gray garment, a long white beard, and a 
faded crown; New Year^ brighter garments and a new crown. 
Winter could have a dark garment, with cotton wool for snow- 
flakes, and alum crystals for frost. He wears a low crown ; while 
Spring^ Summer, and Autumn wear wreaths. The solo singers 
join in chorus after they get upon the stage.] 

Old Year. Ah, well ! ah, well ! I sadly tell ! 
My moments fleet are flying ! 
Like distant chime of Christmas bell, 
The Old Year's hours are dying ! 

Good night, good night ! good-by, good-by ! 

My long, bright reign is ending ; 
I see glad New Year drawing nigh, 

My happy throne ascending. 

New Tear. I come, I come ! I haste along, 

The throne, the sceptre taking ! 
Appear, O loyal subject throng, 
Your choice of service making. 

Come, Autumn, Winter, Summer, Spring, 

AYith wondrous varied graces ; 
And round the sun the earth we'll bring, 

Along the starry spaces. 

Tlie Seasons {entei^ing), 

\Ye come, w^e come \ 

Each Season brings her duty ; 
We'll crown the lovely earth, our home, 

With joy and light and beauty. 

Spring. The Spring ! the joyous Spring am I ! 
My handmaids see me bringing 
Capricious April, wilful March, 
And May with music ringing.. 

March, The driving storm, the rushing gale. 
Because you need, I send you, 
But clear blue gleams, o'er hill and vale, 
Through rifted clouds I lend you. 

April. You find the grass, the buds, the leaves, 

Where through the shower I fling them, 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



103 



And swallows build beneath the eaves, 
When home again I bring them. 

May, And I, yes, I'm the merry May ! 

The apple-trees are blooming, 
And robin-redbrea&t's roundelay 
Sings out, to greet my coming. 

March, April, May, 

Away, away ! 

With all our gentle powers. 
We break away the ice and snow, 
And strew the earth with flowers. 

Summer, Away, bright Spring! my maids I bring, 
And each a welcome comer. 
The brook shall laugh, the valleys sing, 
To greet the sunny Summer, 

t/ttwe. With daisies decked, with roses crowned, 

I bring the wild bee's humming, 
And callow nestlings chii-p around, 
When gentle June is coming. 

July. Before me, glowing bright July, 

Flies every cloud and shadow, 
While brilliant flowers, of deejiest dye, 
I spread o'er hill and meadow. 

August And I dance o'er the sunny plain, 
A wealth of harvest finding, 
Where merry reapers reap the grain 
That merry maids are binding. 

June, July, August. 

We come, we come ! 

At sunset hear them singing, 
While o'er the new-mown fields they roam^ 
And '^ Harvest-home " is ringing. 

Autumn. Sweet Summer, haste \ for on I fly 
To hang my golden treasure 
On branches low, and branches high, 
Bright Autumn's fullest measure. 



104 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Septemher, I crowd with fruits the tree, the vine, 
And glad young hearts remember, 
The Autumn leaves, that glow and shine 
O^er joyous, gay September. 

October, And I, in forests gay no more, 

From woodlands brown and sober, 
Shake down of nuts the children's stoi^e, 
In frosty, keen October. 

November. I wear no roses on my brow, 

But Autumn leaflets growing. 
And chill November, soft and low, 
Sings, " Autumn-time is going." 

September, October^ November. 
'Tis o'er, 'tis o'er ! 

The harvest merry-making, 
And from the golden Autumn days 

Our leave we now are taking. 

Winter. My crown of ice, my robe of snow. 
My frosty sandals wearing. 
Before my brave young troop I go, 
An icy sceptre bearing. 

December. See gay December drawing near \ 
Glad Christmas I am bringing. 
With Christmas gift, and song and cheer, 
And merry bells a-ringing. 

January. With sleigh-bells chime, and coasters' glee, 
And skaters' shout, so merry, 
Glad New Year smiles to welcome me, 
His own bright January. 

February. Last come I, changeful month that stands 
'Twixt Winter's binding powers 
And Spring, bright maid, whose tender hands 
Sets free the buds and flowers. 

Dec, Jan.^ Feb. Hejoice, rejoice ! in tuneful song 
Kaise all our happy voices. 
The Months and Seasons haste along, 
And every heart rejoices ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 105 

Ml. Rejoice, rejoice ! again rejoice ! 
He reigns in beauty o'er us ; 
We greet the New Year on his throne, 
With full resounding chorus ! 

He reigns, he reigns ! 

He reigns in beauty o'er us ! 
We greet the New Year on his throne. 

With full resounding chorus ! 



LINCOLN SONG: FOR APRIL UTH. 

{Tune : " Tenting on the old camp ground.") 

We are thinking to-day of a loved one lost, 

Lincoln, the true, the brave ; 
Of the strong one who came, when tempest-tost, 

Our nation's bark to save. 

Chorus. Many are the hearts that are mourning to-day, 
Mourning for the brave laid low ; 

Many are the eyes looking up to say, 
Oh why must this be so ! 

Help us to say, humbly we pray, 
Father, may thy will be done ! 

We are thinking to-day how he led us on, 

Just as the Lord led him, 
To the glorious victory well-nigh w^on ; 

And our eyes with tears grow dim. 

Chorus. Many are the hearts &c. 

We are w^eeping to-day, but the hour will come. 

Come when we all shall see 
Why the will of the Lord hath called him home. 

No more with us to be. 

Chorus. Many are the hearts, &c. 



106 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



NO! NO! NO!* 

There is a word of power 

More strong than might of kings, 
When, in temptation's hour, 

Upon the ear it rings. 
A thousand wiles would win us 

In wicked ways to go, 
Unless the voice within us 

Tells us. No ! No ! No 1 

In gayest scenes of pleasure, 

The wine*cup, gleaming bright, 
May offer fullest measure 

Of gladness and delight : 
But oh, it lures to win us 

Where bitter waters flow, 
Unless the voice within us 

Tells us, No ! No ! No ! 

In idle pastures straying 

From labor's fields afar, 
So easy is the staying, 

So hard those duties are, — 
The flowery paths would win us 

Still more astray to go, 
Unless the voice within us 

Tells us. No ! No ! No ! 

There is a path of Duty, 

There is a way of Right, 
All full of truth and beauty. 

Of honor, pure and bright. 
Whatever thence would win us 

Some other way to know. 
Shall hear the voice within us 

Tell us. No ! No ! No ! 

* This song is from W. O. Perkins's song-book, " The Wliip-poor- 
will." " The' Whip-poor-will " has songs for all the times and seasons, 
and occasions and needs of school life. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 107 



A LITTLE BOY'S SUGGESTION. 

I DO not know one single thing 
About this Chinese question, 

But I have thought that I would bring, 
To-night, this small suggestion : 

'Tis just as true as 'twas when Chrisst 
This rule gave first and new, 

That you must do to others as 
You'd have them do to you. 

Now, do you think, if you should go 

To China or Japan, 
You'd like such treatment as we give 

To poor John Chinaman ? 



AUGUST, 1619.— DECEIMBER, 1620.* 

{^Recitation for Forefathers' Day.) 

'TWAS a stormy night, and the moon's pale light 

Through rifted clouds shone down. 
Where the Maytiov/er lay, in the ice-bound bay, 

By the rude, wild shore alone. 
For a Pilgrim band to the northern land 

Had crossed the ocean o'er, 
And a hope shone high in the lifted eye, 

As they gazed on the stormy shore. 
What sought they, thus roaming 
Far, far away ? 
Oh, they sought and found, where the soul, unbound. 

To the God of the free might pray ! 

To a southern clime, in the summer time, 

A barque ploughed through the sea ; 
She was laden low with a freight of woe, — 

For a slaver ship was she. 

* The Mayflower brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth, Mass., in De- 
cember, 1620. In August of the preceding year, a Dutch slave-ship 
sailed up the James Piver with the first cargo of slaves ever brought 
to the American colonies. 



108 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 

O'er the sunny seas came a wooing breeze, 

From fair Virginia's shore, 
And the ship sailed in with her freight of sin, 
And the blight and the curse she bore. 
What brought she, thus roaming 
Far o'er the sea ? 
Oh, she brought the slave, and the bondman gave 
To the land of the Lord's own free ! 

O'er the northern hills, by the singing rills. 

From the mountains to the sea, 
Spread a mighty throng, brave and true and strong, 

And they sang the songs of the free. 
While Virginia's soil with the bondman's toil, 

Fair as a garden grew ; 
Till Jehovah's breath with a blast of death 

O'er the sin-cursed nation blew ! 
What sought He, Jehovah, 
Lord over all ? 
Oh, he brought out free, through the War's Red Sea, 

His oppressed from Oppression's thrall. 



"ALL WORK AND NO PLAY." 

{Said two ways.) 

Little Boy {tliouglitfidhj). 

It does not seem to me that boys 

Get half the fun they need, 
When they just come to school, and learn 
To write, and spell, and read. 

But then, it does 7iot seem to me 

That it is just the way 
For boys to skate, and slide, and run. 

And spend all time in play. 

Small Girl {interrupting hriskJy). 

Th-Cil'^just the way our fathers thought, 

Full fifty years ago ! 
This is the way they said it. 
Not musingly and slow : 
" All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy." 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 109 



VACATION FUN. 

[Some Boys and Girls are talking together. Little Grandmother sits 
off at one side, knitting, and commenting in an aside as they speak, 
but not interrupting them.] 

Arcliie. Boys and girls, vacation is coming, 

And now let's all of us say 
Where we would go, and what we would see, 
If things could be as they ought to be, 

And boys and girls had their ow^n way. 

Grandmother. 

" Had their own way ! " 'Tis my belief 
In a very short time they'd come to grief. 

Shetlon. Oh, Archie ! I wouldn't take long to decide : 

I'd build a beautiful boat ; 
To the Northern Polar Sea I'd sail, 
And catch the walrus, and seal, and whale, 

And that would be fun afloat ! 

Grand. In his beautiful boat he'd have a mess 

With walrus, and seal, and whale, I guess. 

Ethel. Now, Shelton, I'd choose something better than that : 

Up the Amazon I'd run, 
Where parrots chatter, and monkeys swing. 
And bright little humming-birds flit and sing, — 

And oh, wouldn't that be fun ! 

Grand. Now hear the child talk ! It makes me smile. 
Nice dinner she'd make for a crocodile ! 

Gerty. Oh, Ethel ! see how you like my plan : — 

I'll have a seal-skin dress, 
Then up to the Hudson's Bay I'll go 
To the queer snow-huts of the Esquimaux, 

And that will be fun, I guess ! 

Grand. Has that girl forgotten, do you suppose. 
It is cold enough there to freeze her nose ? 



110 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Lulu. I can tell you a trip worth two of that, 
Nor half so cold and rough ; 
For a girl of my studious disposition, 
In a trip to the Paris Exposition 
Of fun there would be enough. . 

Grand, Poor thing ! half frightened to death she'd be 
Before she was half-way over the sea ! 

Bobbie. Now, Lulu, to China, the land of tea, 

I make up my mind to go ; 
Where they have such queer little slanting eyes, 
And sell young rats and puppies for pies, — 

And that must be fun, you know ! 

Grand, (turning to tTiem), 

Well ! well ! it seems you would each forsake 

The land I jolliest call. 
Better sail your boats in the Yankee rills ; 
Better chase for sport over Yankee hills ; 

That will be the best fun of all. 

All. Little grandmother's right! Three cheers for you ! 

Your way is the wisest one. 
Wherever we go, she shall lead the van, 
She shall march this way, — now see our plan, — 
And isn't this jolly fun ! 
Yes, isn't this jolly fun ! 

{Two Boys take Littx^e Grandmother between them, in her 
little arm-chair, and carry her off the stage, the restfoUoicing.) 



MONEY TO SPEND. 

{Game for Rai7iy Recess.) 

{The Scholars sit in a line or semicircle. Each Scholar takes 
the name of a country.) 

Tlie Leader {standing before them, addressing any one), I 
have money to spend : what have you to sell {turning quickly to 
Spain), Mr. Spain ? 

Spain {instantly). Malaga raisins, sir. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. HI 

F^pain (having ansicered promptly, tal<:es the Leader's place, 
and says), I have money to spend : what have you to sell, Mr. 
Labrador ? 

Labrador (hesitates, and cannot tell). 

Leader. Go to your storehouse and find out. (A Labra- 
dor leans his head upon Ids hands until he can remember, when 
he raises a hand, is called upon, and tells.) 

Leader, I have money to spend : what have vou to sell, 
Florida? 

Florida. Oranges, sir. (And Florida takes the lead.) 

[The variety of heads down, hands up, and changing places, is amus- 
ing. Vary thus :] 

Leader, I am collector for a menagerie : what animal have 
you, Alaska ? 

Alaska. Seals, sir. 

[Or again :] 
Leader. I am seeking for wonders : what have you, Ice- 
land? 

Iceland. My geysers, sir. 

[This game, briskly carried on, is amusing and instructive.] 



WHAT SHALL ARCHIE DO? 

Q. What shall Archie do 

In the month of the glad New Year ? 
A. Slide down hill with his splendid sled. 

And skate on the ice so clear. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

In the month that will soonest end ? 
A. Paint pretty things on pretty cards, 

To his Valentine to send. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

When the winds of March rage wild ? 
A. Put on his ulster, tie his hat. 

And run like a happy child. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

In the changing April days ? 

A. Watch the swift raindrops patter down, 
In their pretty dancing plays. 



112 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

When May is bright and fair ? 

A. Wander over to yonder hill, 
And find blue violets there. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

When comes the rosy June ? 

A. Lie on the still, soft grass, and hear 
The insects' busy tune. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

When comes the warm July ? 

A, Celebrate the glorious Fourth, 
And send his rockets high. 

Q, And what shall Archie do 
In August, hotter still ? 

A, Swing in his hammock under the trees, 
And listen to Oriole's trill. 

Q, And what shall Archie do 

In the bright September weather ? 

A, He and I will fish in the brook, 
Or pick up the nuts together. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

When October days come cool ? 

A, Watch the wild geese as they fly off south, 
By their queer, triangular rule. 

Q. And what shall Archie do 

In the next month, tell me, pray ? 

A. Go to grandmother's, for you know 
In November 's Thanksgiving day. 

Q, And what shall Archie do 

In December, bleak and cold ? 

A. Give poor little children gifts, and find 

For himself more than stockings can hold. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 113 

But all this while must Archie 

This lesson, too, remember : — 
Time is not given all for play, 

From New Year to December ; 
And all this time he must learn 

From Nature and books all he can, 
That will help him to be what he's made to be, 

A thoroughly noble man. 



SPRING FUN. 

The best of fun, I tell you, boys, — 

I wonder if you know ? — 
Is to get a dozen polliwigs. 

And find out how frogs grow. 

You go and catch them in the pond, 

Along in early spring ; 
And when you stir them up, — oh, my ! 

They squirm like anything. 

They are just like a little spot 

Of jelly, with two eyes ; 
And such a very funny tail, 

Of quite astounding size. 

You put them in a great, big dish, — 

A large bowl is the best, — 
They swim and squirm, and squirm and swim, 

And never seem to rest. 

Put in some dirt, and water-plants, — 
I've known them to eat meat, — 

They'll grow and grow so beautiful. 
The girls would call them " sweet,"*^ 

And bunches, by and by, appear, — 

On each side there are two, — 
And little legs, like sprouting plants. 

Will pretty soon peep through. 

The legs grow long, the tail grows short. 
And by and bv you'll see 
8 



114 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

There isn't any tail at all 
Where a tail used to be. 

And froggy now can jump on land. 

Or in the water swim ; 
And scientific men will now 

Amphibious call him. 



TWO MITES : A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING. 

Such a funny thing is told to me, 

And now I tell to you, 
What a child as poor as poor can be, 

For the missions tried to do. 

The story of the widow's mite 

Had taught this lesson, good : 
Each gift is blessed in the dear Lord's sight 

When we have done what we could. 

Next Sabbath day said the little child, 

" I've dot two mice for you." 
" Two mice ! " the teacher said, and smiled ; 

*' What with them can I do ? " 

" I've brought my own two mice," she said, 

" My tonti/bution, these ; 
You said, you know, that with tico mice 

The dear Lord once was pleased ! " 

Hushed was the rising merriment ; 

The two mice soon were sold ; 
Ereely for them the rich ones spent 

Their silver and their gold. 

Ah ! how they raised and raised the price, 

All for the mission store ! 
So big a price for two small mice 

Was never paid before ! 

Thus, sure enough, the gift was blessed, 

The giver's heart made glad ; 
And so grew " more than, all the rest," 

That poor child's " all she had " ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 115 

A LITTLE FRENCH FOR A LITTLE GIRL. 

** ' Early to bed and early to rise.' 

So, little girlie, come shut up your eyes." 

** Mes yeux, that's my eyes, will not shut up, mon pere^ 
Because the old sandman has not been round there." 

Monpere is my father, and this, couchez-vous, 
Just means, go to bed, as papa calls to you. 

A Jiuit heures, eight o'clock, should you linger, he'd say, 
** Majille, that's my daughter, il vousfaut allerJ^ 

" You must go ; " so, my darling, come give me a kiss, 
These French words, embrasse moi, mean just about this. 

So, my girlie, go off with your mother, ta mere* 
Who will carefully comb tes cheveitx, that's your hair. 

She will lovingly kiss you, and say hon niiit, 

Or good-night, and in dreamland you quickly will be. 



MOUSE-TRAPS.* 

Say, did you ever a mouse-trap behold, 

Framed to entrap all the silly young mice ; 
Tempting them, luring them on to be bold ; — 

Sweetest of morsels within to entice ? 
Did not you think, if a mousie were you, 

You would know better than nibbling to go ? 
Then, if yoiCre tempted some wrong thing to do, 

Just think of the mouse-trap, and wisely say No ! 

Chorus. Mouse-traps ! mouse-traps ! beware ! 
Mouse-traps ! of these have a care ! 
Temptation shun, and say, when you see 
Sly, cunning mouse-traps, You shall not catch me ! 

Say, did you ever a mouse-trap behold, 

When it had snapped on some poor, little mouse, — 

Holding him, keeping him there in the cold, 
Shutting him up in a dark prison-house ? 

* Use as a Recitation, omitting the Chorus ; or find music in 
' Golden Robin," published by Oliver Ditson, Boston. 



116 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Did not you think, though the morsels were nice, 
Better with crusts and with freedom to go ? 

Then, if the wicked trj^ you to entice, 

Just think of the mouse-trap, and wisely say Iso / 

Cliorus. Mouse-traps! mouse-traps ! beware ! 

Say, did you ever a mouse-trap behold ; 

Little brown mouse lying dead on the floor ? 
Did not you wish that somebody had told 

Mousie to seek other quarters before ? 
Surely, the way of trangressors is hard : 

Always remember, my boys, it is so ! 
All of the wiles of the tempter discard ; 

Just think of the mouse-trap, and wisely say No ! 

CJiorus, Mouse-traps ! mouse-traps ! beware ! 



WE THANK THEE. 

(For Opening School) 

{Let jfive Girls recite each a single stanza, and the whole school 
resjjond, i^everently, in concert.) 

First. For flowers that bloom about our feet. 
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet. 
For song of bird, and hum of bee, 
For all things fair we hear or see, — 

Response. Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! 

Second. For blue of stream and blue of sky, 
For pleasant shade of branches high, 
For fragrant air and cooling breeze. 
For beauty of the blooming trees, — 

Response, Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! 

TJiird. For mother-love and father-care. 

For brothers strong and sisters fair, 
For love at home and school each day, 
For guidance lest we go astray, — 

Response. Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



117 



Fourth, For Thy dear everlasting arms 

That bear us o'er all ills and harms, 

For blessed words of long ago 

That help us now Thy will to know, — 

Besponse. Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! 

Fifth, We bring to crown the children's hour 

The season's wealth of leaf and flower. 
And from our loving hearts we say, 
For Summer-time and Children's day, 

Besponse. Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! 



LITTLE FOXES AND LITTLE HUNTERS. 

Becite. *' Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the 
vines." — Song of Solomon, ii. 15. 

First. Among my tender vines I spy 

A little fox named — By-and-hy. 

Answer. Then set upon him, quick, I say, 

The swift young hunter — Biglit-away. 

Second, Around each tender vine I plant, 

I find the little fox — I-cant. 

Answer. Then, fast as ever hunter ran. 

Chase him with bold and brave — I-can ! 

TJiird. No-use-iU'trying — lags and whines 

This fox, among my tender vines. 

Answer, Then drive him low and drive him high, 

With this good hunter named — Fll-try ! 



Fourth. Among the vines in my small lot. 

Creeps in the young fox — I-forgot, 

Answer. Then hunt him out and to his den 

With — I'Will-not-f or get-again ! 



118 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Fifth, The little fox that, hidden there 

Among my vines is — I-doiiH-care. 

Answer, Then let Tm-sorry — hunter true — 

Chase him a- far from vines and you. 

The Five. What mischief-making foxes \ yet 
Among our vines they often get. 

In concert. But, now their hunters' names you know, 
Just drive them out, and keep them so. 



CALL TO THE BIRDS. 

Come, come, come ! 

Birdlings, hasten home. 
Spring has called the buds and flowers. 
Clad with green the wild wood bowers ; 

Bees begin to hum, 

Happy birdlings, come. 

Fly, fly, fly ! 

Through the pleasant sky. 
Fly from sunny southern meadows; 
Fly as swift as Summer shadows, 

Summer time draws nigh, 

Happy birdlings, fly. 

Sing, sing, sing ! ^ 

On the waving wing. 
Sing aloud in tuneful chorus ; 
Sing your sweetest songs before ns. 

Making glad the Spring, 

Happy birdlings, sing. 

Build, build, build ! 

Nests must soon be filled. 
Here a straw and there a feather. 
Neatly woven, all together. 

Sunshine comes to gild, 

Happy birdlings, build. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 119 

Haste, haste, haste ! 

O'er the ocean waste. 
He who heeds the sparrow's falling 
Guides you when the spring is calling. 

He your path has traced, 

Happy birdlings, haste. 



THE CITY GIRL, 

Up in the morning early, 

Roused by the rush of feet, 
Hurr^-ing over the pavements, 

Hastening down the street 
Called by the school-bell merry, 

Joining the scholars* play, 
Seeing the sights so cheery, 

Filling the windows gay. 

Watching the rich man's horses, 

Bearing him swift along ; 
Watching the man with an organ, 

The little girl singing a song ; 
Seeing, — ah ! many a lady, 

Decked like a splendid queen ; 
Seeing, — ah ! many a beggar, 

Covered with garments mean ; 

Pausing to hear the church-bells 

Ringing in solemn chime ; 
Pausing to count, from the belfry, 

The hour of the passing time. 
Thus, to the child in the city 

Life goes hurrying by, 
Happy the one that treasures 

The minutes that swiftly fly. 

Oh ! ma}' we, ail of us, ever 

Pause in our heedless haste. 
By the fountain that fails us never, 

The waters of life to taste. 
So, when life's labors are ended, 

Joyfully we may meet 
Up in the Heavenly City, 

Walking the Golden Street 



120 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 



LUCY LEE. 

Down the hill, down the hill, where the lilies grow, 

Where the willow-branches droop, and where the waters flow. 

Dwelt a little friend of ours, sweet Httle Lucy Lee ; 

No purer were the lily flowers beneath the willow-tree. 

Down the hill, down the hill, where the lilies grow. 

Where the willow-branches droop, and where the waters flow. 

On the hill, on the hill, joyfully and free, 

Through the livelong summer day, played little Lucy Lee, 

But when Autumn tinged the trees that grow beside the wave, 

They bore our darling one away to yonder little grave ; 

Then no more upon the hill, joyfully and free, 

Through the livelong summer day played little Lucy Lee. 

O'er the hill, o'er the hill, solemnly and slow. 

Carried they our httle friend, to yonder church-yard low ; 

They laid the little Lucy down within her lowly grave. 

And all the lilies foded, too, that grew beside the wave. 

O'er the hill, o'er the hill, solemnly and slow, 

Carried they our little friend to yonder church-yard low. 

Tip the hill ! up the hill, gentle angels bore 

The lovely one that we shall see upon the earth no more. 

For only Lucy^s body, then, to yonder grave was given ; 

Her happy spirit plays again, upon the Hills of Heaven ! 

Up the hill ! up the hill, gentle angels bore 

The lovely one that we shall see upon the earth no more. 



HAPPY SINGER. 

The Spring has come with happy hours ; 

The sun shines all the day, 
I love to see the blooming flowers 

Beneath the skies of May. 
But better than the flowers I see, 

I love the birds that sing ; 
For music dearer is to me 

Than any other thing. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 121 

In Summer time the roses blow 

Upon the sunny hills ; 
The lilies and the daises grow 

Beside the singing rills. 
But better than the flowers I see, 

I love the brooks that sing ; 
For music dearer is to me 

Than any other thing. 

Though Spring and Summer fly away, 

And hushed each singing rill, — 
Though not a bird in all the day 

Sings o'er the silent hill, — 
My happy heart, so full of glee, 

Its merry song shall sing ; 
For music dearer is to me 

Than any other thing. 



THE CHRISTMAS-TEEE. 

Deep in the greenwood, tall and strong. 
The grand old oak-tree standeth long. 

The cypress shadeth the precious grave ; 
And the willow bendeth beside the wave. 

The apple-trees sweeten the summer air, 
The holly and pine make winter fair. 

And many another beautiful tree. 
Over the hills and vales you see. 

But one that giveth a new delight, 
Shall bud and blossom for us to-night ; 

Its leaves are green and the trunk is strong ; 
There are curious fruits its boughs among. 

'Tis the Christmas-tree, and soon you'll know 
The wonderful fruits that on it grow : 



122 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Here are mantles, and aprons, and gloves, and mittens, 
And wooden houses, and sugar kittens ; 

And books with pictures, and books without 5 
I wish I knew what they're all about! 

There are dolls and trumpets, for girls and boys j 
And useful clothing, and pretty toys ; 

And every leaf and twig that you see, 
Is as dewy with love as a twig can be. 

And now, dear children, its fruits so fair, 
We'll gather, and give to each his share. 

But, no matter who plants a tree, you know 
It is only our Lord that can make it grow. 

And so, dear children, your hearts uplift 
To the Author of every perfect gift. 

And for all the fruits of the Christmas-tree, 
Though the loving givers around you see. 

Be sure your thanks alike shall rise. 

To the dear, kind Father above the skies. 



BIRDS AND ANGELS. 

One day in early Spring, 

My little girls and boys, 
Each merry-hearted thing 

Seemed bent on making noise. 

" Oh, listen now," said I, 

" Who knows but we may hear 

Up in the branches high. 

Some Spring-bird's voice so clear ! " 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 123 

Quickly each little child 

Ceased from his busy play, 
And waited, still and mild, 

For what the bird should say. 

And sweet, and clear, and long, 

The little listeners heard 
The merry, hapj)y song 

Of a little bright Spring bu'd. 

And thus, so glad and gay, 

That joyful little thing 
Had sung for us all day, 

And we ne^er listening ! 

How could we, when the din 

Of noise and tumult round 
Would never let come in 

The sweeter, better sound? 

Then thought I how the angels 

Are near us night and day, 
Though evil passions sometimes 

Would drive them far away. 

Ko wonder that we never 

Their sweet, low voices hear. 
If round our lives forever 

We keep confusion near ! 

Just like good little children 

Let us, obedient, stay 
Of sin the noise and tumult, 

And hear what angels say. 

For, like the birds unheeded, 

With songs as sweet and fair, 
The good and blessed angels 

Are near us everywhere. 



124 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 



MAY FESTIVAL. 

1. [Entrance of the Queen, the three Maids of Honor y and three Pages 
bearing the Garland, Crown, and Sceptre. Then follow all the 
other children. After marching around the stage, the Queen Avith 
the Maids of Honor and Pages take position at the front of the 
stage : Queeii in the centre, Maids of Honor on the right, Pages on 
the left. The others stand in groups on either side.] 

2. Presentation of the Garland. 

A Little Boy steps forward, takes the Garland from the First Page, 
who has previously carried it, and throw^s it over the Queen's shoul- 
der, after reciting the following presentation speech ; 
Thou art the Queen of May. 
As May throws over the land 
Bright garlands of beauty, 
My loyal duty 
Is thus with loving hand 
To fling this Garland green 
Over the neck of our Queen. 

Queen {replies after receiving Garland), 
For thy loyal hand to deck, 
Low I bend my royal neck. 
Lovely is this garland gay, 
That adorns your Queen of May. 

3. Presentation of the Crown. 

{AnotJier Little Boy stcjps forward, takes the Croicn from the 
Second Page and places it on the Queen'' s head, saying :) 

Spring is queen of the year, 

And May is queen of the Spring ; 

Thou art the Queen of the May, most dear, 
And so thy crown I bring. 

Bend thy beautiful head, I pray, 

That I may crown thee Queen of May. 

Queen {receiving Crown). 

Brighter far than gold or gem, 

I this flowery diadem 

Wear, upon my brow, to-day, 

That shall crown your Queen of May. 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 125 

{After the crowning, all sing the first stanza of " The Rosy 
Crown," or of any familiar crowning song.) 

4. Presentation of the Sceptre. 

(A third Little Boy takes the Sceptre from the TJiird Page, 
presents it, and recites :) 

Gentle is thy royal mien ; 
Rule as gently, lovely Queen. 
Now thy flowery sceptre hold, 
Bright with gems of green and gold. 

Queen {receiving Sceptre), 

Sceptre, hright with leaf and flower, — 
Token of my queenly power, — 
Love shall guide its royal sway 
While I rule as Queen of May. 

[After the Queen has responded, she and the Maids of Honor, and 
Pages, walk to the Throne and take seats there.] 

5. Grand March. 

[After which all the children form a semicircle around the Throne.] 

6. Call to the Flowers. 

[A Young Lady steps to the front of the stage and sings the Call. At 
the close of each verse, the Flower called steps to the side of the 
singer, recites a little verse, and then takes her seat at the foot of 
the Throne near the feet of the Queen.'] 

Young Lady. 

Now bloom the bright buttercups, golden-hued buttercups, 

Down in the meadow-grass green ; 
Come, come, little Buttercup, bright little Buttercup, 

Bloom round the throne of our Queen. 

Buttercup. Yes, I'm coming ; help me up ; 
I am little Buttercup. 

{These responses are recited.) 
Young Lady. 
Sweet roses are blossoming, blushing and blossoming ; 

Down from the branches they lean ; 
Come, come, little Rosy-bud, sweet little Rosy-bud, 
Bloom round the throne of our Queen. 



126 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

'Rosebud, Yes, I'm coining to her feet 5 
Fm a little Rosebud sweet. 

Young Lady. 

And modest blue violets, sweet-scented violets, 

Down by the brooklet are seen ; 
Come, come, little Violet, meek little Violet, 

Bloom round the throne of our Queen. 

Violet. Yes, Fm coming very nigh ; 

Little Violet am I. 

Young Lady, 

Now beautiful May-flowers, loveliest May-flowers, 

Hide under brown leaves their sheen ; 
Come, come^ little May-flower, sweet little May-flower, 

Bloom round the throne of our Queen. 

May-flower, Yes, I'm coming ; lead me there ; 
I'm the little May-flower fair. 

Young Lady, 

And daisies white, daisies white, bloom in the meadows bright. 

Modest and simple their mien ; 
Come, come, little Daisy-white, dear little Daisy-white, 

Bloom round the throne of our Queen. 

Daisy. Yes, I'm Daisy, white as snow ; 

To my Queen I'm glad to go. 

Young Lady, 

Now with their bright glancing wings, happy and dancing things, 

Butterflies golden are seen ; 
Come, come, httle Butterflies, gay little Butterflies, 

Flit round the throne of your Queen. 

Butterfly. Yes, I'm coming; gay am Ij 
I'm the golden Butterfly. 

[All these Little Ones should be dressed in the appropriate colors and 
flowers. There may he two of each kind if desh-able. Of the *' But- 
terflies " it would be pretty to have several. Make butt erfy- wings 
of yellow tarlatan, over a wire frame, butterfly-wing shape.] 



THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 127 

7. Entrance of the Queen's Guard. 

[A band of the very smallest Boys enter. They march to front of 
stage, and stand in line. Each has a shield on his left arm, and a 
spear in right hand.] 

{The Leader says one line, and the ethers in concert reply.) 

Leader, I am the Captain of the May Queen's Band. 
All. And we are the Band. 

Leader, I hold my Lance in my hand, you see. 
All. And so do we. 

Leader, For our good Queen brave deeds I'll do. 
All, And we will, too. 

Leader. For our good Queen now shout Hurrah ! 
All, Hurrah ! hurrah ! 

(Then let them march around the stage, and take places near 
the Throne.) 

[Or use these lines instead.] 
Leader. I am the Captain of the May Queen's Guard ; 
If anybody harms her I shall fight him hard. 
All. And so shall we ! 

Leader, And that no danger shall come upon her, 
I pledge my life and my sacred honor ! 

All, And so do we ! 

Leader, And now I bravely take my stand — 

The May Queen's Guard at the Queen's right hand. 
All. And so do we. 

{TJien let them march around and take places by the Throne. 
Hold the Lances and Shields in some pretty icay as they 
recite.) 

Leader. Beloved Queen ! if enemies assail her, 
Or harm affect her, — 

All, We promise her that we will never fail her ! 

We will protect her ! 



128 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 

Leader. Beloved Queen ! should danger come upon her, 
Or foes come nigh her, — 

All. We pledge our lives, we pledge our sacred honor, 

That we'll stand by her ! 

[The Queen^s Guard now march to the Throne^ half standing on the 
right, and half on the left. A Young Lady sings to " We sail the 
ocean blue," the opening chorus in "Pinafore."] 

Our lovely Queen we've crowned, 

She's the Queen of May and beauty ; 
We stand her throne around, 

And we pledge our loyal duty. 
We have called to her feet every bright Flower sweet, 

For her we will dance and sing ; 
And our May-pole we'll braid for the lovely maid, 

For she rules o'er the May-pole ring. 

8. The Tivehe Girls who take part in the May-pole Dance, now 

Braid the May-Pole. 

a. Twining and untwining. 

h. Singing the second verse of *' Hosy Crown." 

c. Braiding and uDbraiding. 

d. Third verse of *'Rosy Crown." 

While singing the last Chorus, the Twelve Little Girls join hands 
and dance once or twice around the Pole. 

The Braiding of the May-Pole. 

[Let the pole be as high as the room will admit. It is deco- 
rated with showy wreath at top. There are twelve ribbons: 
four red, four white, and four blue. These are all tacked to the 
top of the pole, and must be long enough to reach to the bottom 
of the pole. They must hang perfectly smooth and even. The 
Twelve who are to braid the May-pole are in two circles, an in- 
ner and an outer. The music is any simple polka. Each circle 
has a leader ; one goes to the right, one to the left. This braid- 
ing the May-pole is beautiful, but it requires a great deal of 
practice. Use, in practising, long strips of colored cloth instead 
of ribbons. After braiding the pole, the Twelve fall again into 
the general hne ; all join hands, and dance around in a circle ; 
at a certain point the Queen and Attendants descend, and all 
march in pretty figures in and out and off the stage.] 



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